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EPA UCMR5 · APRIL 2024 PFOA RULE

Cities where PFOA hit the EPA 4 ppt limit

The EPA's 2024 rule set a Maximum Contaminant Level of 4 ppt for PFOA alone. Under UCMR5 (2023–2025), many utilities tested at or above that line — some far above. This list covers tracked metros on WaterCheckup with PFOA ≥ 3.8 ppt in federal monitoring tied to each city's anchor ZIP / UCMR5 PWSID.

PFOA is only one regulated PFAS compound. Cities can also show high 6:2 FTS or PFOS peaks without a PFOA MCL flag — see Sugar Land (672 ppt 6:2 FTS), worst PFAS cities, and top systems over MCL.

Sugar Land, TX — PFOA at the line, 6:2 FTS at 672 ppt

Sugar Land is the headline "at the limit" case: PFOA at 4.1 ppt (EPA MCL = 4 ppt) plus the highest peak 6:2 FTS reading of any large Texas system in UCMR5. Only NSF 58 reverse osmosis reliably removes short-chain PFAS at the tap.

Full Sugar Land water report →
AT OR ABOVE 4 PPT PFOA (30 TRACKED CITIES)
#1
Philadelphia, PAOver MCL
PFOA 235 ppt · 58.8× EPA limit
PWSID PA1460022
#2
Rochester, NYOver MCL
PFOA 112 ppt · 27.9× EPA limit
PWSID NY5907717
#3
Boston, MAOver MCL
PFOA 92.0 ppt · 23× EPA limit
PWSID MA4245000
#4
Worcester, MAOver MCL
PFOA 92.0 ppt · 23× EPA limit
PWSID MA4245000
#5
Parkersburg, WVOver MCL
PFOA 46.5 ppt · 11.6× EPA limit
PWSID WV3305407
#6
Knoxville, TNOver MCL
PFOA 35.0 ppt · 8.8× EPA limit
PWSID TN0000613
#7
Memphis, TNOver MCL
PFOA 35.0 ppt · 8.8× EPA limit
PWSID TN0000613
#8
Nashville, TNOver MCL
PFOA 35.0 ppt · 8.8× EPA limit
PWSID TN0000613
#9
Birmingham, ALOver MCL
PFOA 32.0 ppt · 8× EPA limit
PWSID AL0000577
#10
Montgomery, ALOver MCL
PFOA 32.0 ppt · 8× EPA limit
PWSID AL0000577
#11
Savannah, GAOver MCL
PFOA 29.0 ppt · 7.3× EPA limit
PWSID GA1290000
#12
Pensacola, FLOver MCL
PFOA 25.8 ppt · 6.5× EPA limit
PWSID FL1170525
#13
Sacramento, CAOver MCL
PFOA 17.3 ppt · 4.3× EPA limit
PWSID CA3410020
#14
Fresno, CAOver MCL
PFOA 16.0 ppt · 4× EPA limit
PWSID CA1010007
#15
Glendale, CAOver MCL
PFOA 14.8 ppt · 3.7× EPA limit
PWSID CA1910043
#16
Newark, NJOver MCL
PFOA 14.4 ppt · 3.6× EPA limit
PWSID NJ0803001
#17
Miami, FLOver MCL
PFOA 14.0 ppt · 3.5× EPA limit
PWSID FL4130871
#18
Fayetteville, NCOver MCL
PFOA 11.0 ppt · 2.8× EPA limit
PWSID NC0326010
#19
Richmond, VAOver MCL
PFOA 10.8 ppt · 2.7× EPA limit
PWSID VA6107600
#20
Virginia Beach, VAOver MCL
PFOA 10.8 ppt · 2.7× EPA limit
PWSID VA6107600
#21
Fort Collins, COOver MCL
PFOA 10.5 ppt · 2.6× EPA limit
PWSID CO0121900
#22
Hialeah, FLOver MCL
PFOA 10.2 ppt · 2.6× EPA limit
PWSID FL4130604
#23
Anaheim, CAOver MCL
PFOA 10.1 ppt · 2.5× EPA limit
PWSID CA3010001
#24
Fort Wayne, INOver MCL
PFOA 10.0 ppt · 2.5× EPA limit
PWSID IN5271014
#25
Madison, WIOver MCL
PFOA 9.9 ppt · 2.5× EPA limit
PWSID WI6480243
#26
Milwaukee, WIOver MCL
PFOA 9.9 ppt · 2.5× EPA limit
PWSID WI6480243
#27
Portland, OROver MCL
PFOA 9.3 ppt · 2.3× EPA limit
PWSID OR4191508
#28
Jersey City, NJOver MCL
PFOA 9.2 ppt · 2.3× EPA limit
PWSID NJ0906001
#29
Anchorage, AKOver MCL
PFOA 9.1 ppt · 2.3× EPA limit
PWSID AK2210906
#30
West Palm Beach, FLOver MCL
PFOA 9.0 ppt · 2.3× EPA limit
PWSID FL4504393
METHODOLOGY

Source: EPA UCMR5 national monitoring (2023–2025). PFOA MCL = 4 ppt as of the April 2024 PFAS rule. City rows use each metro's resolved UCMR5 PWSID (anchor ZIP when UCMR5 exists, otherwise the best-matching monitored system). For your exact tap, run a free ZIP report — home plumbing can differ from utility averages.

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