Published April 2026 — Updated Regularly

How to Test for PFAS in Your Water: A Step-by-Step Practical Guide

Last updated: May 2026

If you're worried about PFAS in your drinking water, testing it is the most concrete thing you can do right now. A lot of people check databases and utility reports — which is a good start — but knowing what's actually coming out of your tap is different from knowing what the utility reports.

Here's how to test for PFAS in your water — what your options are, what each costs, how to read the results, and what to do if you find something.

First: Check What Your Utility Already Knows

If you are on a public water system (city or municipal water), your utility may already have PFAS testing data. Before spending money on your own tests, check these free resources:

Your Annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)

Federal law requires public water systems to send every customer an annual water quality report — the Consumer Confidence Report. Starting with the 2025 reporting cycle, utilities must include PFAS monitoring data under the new EPA rules.

To find your CCR:

• Look for a mailed copy — utilities must send it annually
• Check your utility's website — most post it online
• Search the EPA's database at epa.gov/ccr (search by your utility name or zip code)

EPA's PFAS Analytic Tools

The EPA has published PFAS monitoring data from utilities required to test under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). You can access this data at epa.gov/pfas. Search by state or utility name to see if your system has reported PFAS detections.

Environmental Working Group (EWG) Database

EWG maintains a comprehensive, searchable database of PFAS contamination in water systems across the United States. Visit ewg.org/pfaswater and enter your zip code to see what has been detected in your area.

State Environmental Agency

Most state environmental agencies have PFAS-specific pages with monitoring data for water systems in their jurisdiction. Search "[your state] PFAS drinking water" to find your state's data.

Option 1: Have Your Own Water Tested by a Certified Lab

If you want to know the specific PFAS levels in the water coming out of your tap — not just what the utility measures at the treatment plant — you can submit a water sample to a certified laboratory for PFAS analysis.

Why Certify the Lab?

Not all water testing labs are equipped or certified to test for PFAS. PFAS analysis requires specialized equipment (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) and strict protocols to avoid contamination of samples. Always use a lab certified by your state for PFAS analysis.

How to Find a Certified Lab

• Search the EPA's database of certified testing laboratories at epa.gov/dwlabcert
• Contact your state health department or environmental agency for a list of approved labs in your state
• Organizations like the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) certify labs nationally

What the Test Covers

The most comprehensive PFAS water test is EPA Method 533 or Method 537.1 — these methods can detect over 40 individual PFAS compounds. At minimum, you want a test that covers:

• PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid)
• PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
• PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA (GenX), and PFBS (these are the six compounds with new EPA MCLs)
• Other short and long-chain PFAS if budget allows

Cost

Lab PFAS testing typically costs between $200 and $600 depending on the number of compounds tested and the lab. This is the most accurate option available to homeowners.

How to Submit a Sample

1. Contact the lab to order a sample collection kit — labs provide specific collection bottles to prevent contamination
2. Follow the lab's collection instructions carefully — PFAS-free collection is critical to accurate results
3. Take a sample from your main kitchen tap (cold water, after running briefly)
4. Ship the sample according to the lab's instructions, usually on ice to a specified overnight delivery address
5. Results are typically returned within 1–3 weeks

Option 2: At-Home PFAS Test Kits

Several companies now sell consumer PFAS water test kits that you can order online. You collect a sample at home and mail it to the company's lab for analysis.

Popular options include:

• SimpleLab's Tap Score: Offers several PFAS testing packages; all use certified labs
• National Testing Laboratories: Established water testing company with PFAS panels
• Cyclopure PFAS Detect: Mail-in test covering common PFAS compounds

These kits range from about $100 to $400. They are convenient and legitimate, but make sure the company uses a certified analytical laboratory. Check that their results use EPA Methods 533 or 537.1.

Avoid: Strip test or colorimetric test kits that claim to detect PFAS without laboratory analysis. These are not scientifically validated for PFAS and should not be trusted for health decisions.

Option 3: Private Well Testing

If you are on a private well, there is no utility testing data available for your water. You are entirely responsible for testing your own water. This is especially important if you:

• Live within 1–3 miles of a military base that used AFFF firefighting foam
• Live near an industrial facility that manufactured or used PFAS
• Live near agricultural land where biosolids (sewage sludge) were applied
• Live near a landfill
• Have noticed unusual odors, colors, or tastes in your water

For private wells, follow the same process as Option 1 — use a certified lab with EPA Method 533 or 537.1. Your state may offer free or subsidized testing for private wells in known contamination zones.

Understanding Your Test Results

Once you receive results, here is how to interpret them:

If your results show:

• Below detection limit (BDL or ND): PFAS were not found at detectable levels — generally reassuring, though note that some PFAS may not be included in the test panel
• Detected but below EPA limits: PFAS present but at levels the EPA considers legally acceptable. Health experts note this does not mean the water is safe, just that it meets minimum legal standards.
• Above EPA limits: The water exceeds the new federal MCLs. Action is needed — switch to bottled water or an appropriate filtration system immediately. Report to your state environmental agency.

What to Do If Your Water Tests Positive

If PFAS are detected at concerning levels:

1. Switch to filtered or bottled water immediately for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Do not use contaminated water for these purposes while the problem is being addressed.
2. Report results to your state environmental agency. If you are on a private well in a contaminated area, notify state officials — they may be able to provide assistance or coordinate remediation.
3. Consider filtration. Not all filters remove PFAS. Look for NSF/ANSI Standard 58-certified reverse osmosis systems or NSF/ANSI Standard 53-certified activated carbon block filters. Most standard pitcher filters (like Brita) are NOT effective against PFAS.
4. Talk to your doctor. Discuss your PFAS exposure and whether blood testing to measure your PFAS levels is appropriate.
5. Consult with a legal professional. If you have been exposed to PFAS and developed a health condition, you may have legal rights against the companies that caused the contamination.

How Often Should You Retest?

PFAS contamination levels can change over time as plumes move through groundwater or as treatment infrastructure is upgraded. If your first test showed no PFAS but you live in a known risk area, retesting every 1–2 years is prudent. If your first test showed PFAS, retest after installing filtration to confirm the filter is working, and then annually to confirm performance is being maintained.

Filters lose effectiveness over time. Activated carbon filters can become saturated and actually release PFAS back into filtered water if not replaced on schedule. Follow manufacturer replacement guidelines strictly — treating them as suggestions rather than requirements defeats the purpose of filtering.

Getting Your Blood Tested for PFAS

In addition to testing your water, you can test your own body for PFAS through a serum blood test. This test measures the concentration of PFAS compounds currently in your bloodstream.

A blood test can be useful to:

• Confirm whether your exposure has resulted in body burden of PFAS
• Provide evidence of past exposure even if you no longer live in the contaminated area
• Give your doctor a baseline reading to track over time
• Support a legal claim by documenting measurable PFAS in your system

Ask your primary care doctor to order serum PFAS testing, or contact a specialized environmental health clinic. The ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) has guidance for clinicians on ordering and interpreting PFAS blood tests.

Preserve Your Records

If you are considering legal action, keep copies of all your water test results. Document:

• Date the sample was collected
• Which tap the sample came from
• The lab that analyzed it and their certification
• All numerical results

These records can be important evidence in a legal claim.

Find out if you qualify for PFAS compensation →