Consumer Reports Study on PFAS in Bottled Water
Consumer Reports recently tested 47 brands of bottled water to measure concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The researchers tested 12 brands of carbonated water and 35 brands of non-carbonated water.
Of the 12 carbonated brands tested, 7 contained PFAS at levels equal to or greater than 1 part per trillion (ppt). For perspective, 1 ppt is roughly equivalent to one drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The carbonated water brands whose products had elevated PFAS concentrations are:
- Perrier
- La Croix
- Canada Dry
- Poland Spring
- Bubly
- Polar
Of the 35 brands of non-carbonated water tested, 2 had more than 1 ppt total PFAS. These were Deer Park and Tourmaline Spring.
Related Article: PFAS Lawsuit Update
Which Bottled Water Brands Contained No PFAS?
| Bottler | Brand | Study | Total PFAS (ppt) |
| Arrowhead | Natural Spring Water | CR | Non Detect |
| Berkshire Springs & Blizzard | Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Boxed Water Is Better | Water | CR | Non Detect |
| Circle K Favorites | Spring Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Crystal Geyser | Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Crystal Rock | Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Crystal Springs | Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Good & Gather (Target) | Purified Drinking Water | CR | Non Detect |
| Great Value | Spring Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Great Value | Purified Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Just The Basics | Purified Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Market Basket | Spring Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Members Mark | Purified Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Monadnock | Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Nestle Pure Life | Purified Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Nice! | Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Poland Spring | Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Polar | Arctic Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Primo | Purified Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Pur | Aqua | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Pure NZ | Artesian Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Refresher | Spring Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
| Trader Joe’s | Natural Mountain Spring Water | NHDES | Non Detect |
Is My Bottled Water Safe to Drink?
How can you make sense of the above test results? Should you only drink water with absolutely no PFAS in it? Can you consume a small amount of PFAS and still be safe? As consumers, how can we make sense of these results?
One way to determine whether your bottled water is safe is to look at the drinking water standards. If the levels of PFAS in the water are below the “safe limit”, then you can assume the risk is acceptable.
Related Articles: PFAS Products to Watch Out
State and Federal PFAS Drinking Water Standards
To date, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not established a safe drinking water standard. Instead, the agency has created a health advisory level of 70 ppt for tap water. The consensus of scientific opinion, according to the EPA, is 70 parts per trillion of PFAS is “safe” to drink.
Most states have created their own drinking water standards for PFAS. The lowest limit was set by California at 5.1 ppt for PFOA (this is a single compound in the PFAS class). Michigan and Ohio set their limits at 140,000 ppt.
Related Articles:
- What is a Safe Level of PFAS?
- Does Boiling Water Get Rid of PFAS?
- Can PFAS Be Removed From the Body?
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The Product Liability Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new legal challenges in all 50 states.
If you or a loved one was injured by PFAS contamination, you should contact our law firm immediately for a free case evaluation. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.
