Is There PFAS in Bottled Water?

Some, at low levels in FDA testing. The FDA tested 197 bottled water samples, including purified, artesian, spring and mineral waters, and found detectable PFAS in 10, none at levels that would have exceeded the EPA’s limits for public drinking water.

A 2024 University of Birmingham study found PFOA and PFOS in over 99 percent of bottled water samples from 15 countries, with natural mineral water higher than purified water, though concentrations were generally below health advisory levels. It also found that boiling or activated carbon filtration, such as a jug filter, cut PFAS in drinking water by 50 to 90 percent depending on the PFAS and the treatment.

The FDA regulates bottled water under standard of quality rules that set maximum contaminant levels, and says it is working on a regulation to set levels for certain PFAS as it reviews the EPA’s 2024 PFAS drinking water rule and its May 2026 proposed amendment.

Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.

The sources behind this answer

  • Independent testThe FDA tested 197 bottled water samples, including purified, artesian, spring and mineral waters, and found detectable PFAS in 10, none above the EPA’s limits for public drinking water. US FDA ↗
  • Government sourceThe FDA says it is working on a regulation to set levels for certain PFAS in bottled water, and is reviewing the EPA’s 2024 PFAS rule and its May 2026 proposed amendment. US FDA ↗
  • Regulatory filingThe FDA regulates bottled water and has standard of quality regulations setting maximum levels of chemical, physical, microbial and radiological contaminants. US FDA ↗
  • StudyA University of Birmingham study found PFOA and PFOS in over 99 percent of bottled water samples from 15 countries. University of Birmingham ↗
  • StudyThe study found natural mineral water held higher PFAS concentrations than purified water, but that concentrations were generally below health advisory levels set by regulators. University of Birmingham ↗
  • StudyThe study found boiling and activated carbon filtration, such as a jug filter, can cut PFAS in drinking water by 50 to 90 percent depending on the PFAS and treatment. University of Birmingham ↗

Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.

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