PFAS in Well Water: What You Need to Know

PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — have become one of the most talked-about water quality concerns in the country. Called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down naturally in the environment or the human body, PFAS have been detected in groundwater sources across the United States, including private wells.

If you have a private well, here's what you need to know.

What Are PFAS?

PFAS are a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s in products like non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and firefighting foam (AFFF). They're incredibly stable — which made them useful industrially, and which makes them a persistent problem in the environment.

The most studied compounds are PFOA and PFOS, though the EPA's 2024 drinking water rule now sets limits for six specific PFAS compounds.

How Do PFAS Get Into Well Water?

PFAS reach groundwater through several pathways:

• Military bases and airports — Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used in fire training and suppression has contaminated groundwater at hundreds of military installations
• Industrial facilities — Manufacturing plants, chemical facilities, and electroplating operations
• Landfills — PFAS from consumer products leach into surrounding groundwater
• Agricultural land — Biosolids (sewage sludge) applied as fertilizer can contain concentrated PFAS
• Firefighting training sites — Municipal fire departments that used AFFF

If your well is within a few miles of any of these sources, your risk is elevated. But PFAS contamination has also been found in areas with no obvious point source.

What Are the Health Risks?

Research links PFAS exposure to:

• Kidney and testicular cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Immune system effects (including reduced vaccine effectiveness)
• High cholesterol
• Reproductive and developmental effects

The EPA's 2024 rule set enforceable limits for PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion (ppt) — a level so low it requires specialized lab equipment to detect.

Should You Test Your Well?

The EPA rule applies to public water systems, not private wells. If you're on a private well, nobody is testing your water — you have to do it yourself.

Testing is worth doing if:

• You live within 5–10 miles of a military base, airport, or industrial site
• Your area has been in the news for PFAS contamination
• You've never tested and want a baseline

Even if none of those apply, PFAS testing as part of a comprehensive panel is increasingly common and affordable.

How Much Does PFAS Testing Cost?

Basic PFAS panels (testing for the 6 EPA-regulated compounds) typically run $75–$200 through a find a lab. Broader panels covering dozens of PFAS compounds cost more. Prices have dropped significantly as testing has become more common.

Note: standard water test strips do not detect PFAS. You need a certified laboratory.

Finding a Certified Lab for PFAS Testing

Not all labs are certified for PFAS testing — it requires specialized equipment and methodology. Look for labs certified under EPA Method 533 or 537.1 for drinking water.

Use our lab directory and filter by PFAS to find a certified lab in your state, or find labs that offer mail-in PFAS test kits.

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PFAS contamination is invisible, tasteless, and odorless. The only way to know if your well is affected is to test.