Consider getting a water filter after reading this information.
Startling statistics have emerged revealing a concerning level of pollution in the water that flows from our faucets.
If you prefer bottled water, this news may reinforce your choice, but if you typically drink tap water, this map might make you reconsider.
The map identifies locations across the United States where water is contaminated with PFAS, chemicals known for their persistence in the environment.
This data, released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), prompts serious concerns about water safety and how modern activities may be compromising water cleanliness.
The map pinpoints areas in the nation experiencing the highest PFAS contamination levels in their drinking water systems.
PFAS, dubbed ‘forever chemicals,’ are resilient in both the ecosystem and the human body due to their robust carbon-fluorine bonds. They easily spread through water, complicating their removal.
The map indicates that residents on the East Coast face numerous areas with alarmingly high PFAS concentrations, surpassing safe limits.
The West Coast shows fewer but still notable areas of concern.
On the map, light blue regions indicate contamination levels above acceptable limits, whereas dark blue represents areas within safe levels.
There are 3,309 sites reporting PFAS in drinking water supplies, but the map doesn’t show if these areas are actively addressing the issue.
The Mirror cites the Environmental Working Group (EWG) stating that ‘all locations represented on the map are approximate and intended to portray the general area of a contamination site or a community water system’.
Recently, the EPA reported that an additional 7 million Americans are consuming water with PFAS contamination since the last assessment.
This update raises the total affected population to 172 million according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
The EPA informed Newsweek: “On April 28, 2025, the agency announced a suite of actions to address PFAS, including in water. This list is the first, not the last, of all decisions and actions EPA will be taking to address PFAS over the course of the Trump Administration.”
Water facilities now have until 2027 to conduct initial PFAS testing, with a requirement for all public water systems to lower PFAS levels below legal limits by 2029.
In the interim, those in heavily contaminated locations may need to find their own solutions.
The EPA has yet to announce a comprehensive maximum contaminant level for water, but they have set specific limits for chemicals like PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFNA.
The maximum contaminant levels are 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS, and 10 parts per trillion for PFHxS and PFNA.
The EWG suggests using water filters in areas with high contamination.