PFAS in Drinking Water in Connecticut
What residents of Connecticut need to know about PFAS ("forever chemicals") in drinking water — including contamination sources, which utilities have documented violations, and how to filter PFAS from tap water.
Source: EPA SDWIS, Connecticut Department of Public Health, CDC · Last reviewed: 2025-01-01
Quick Answer
Is PFAS in drinking water a real concern in Connecticut?
Yes. Connecticut has documented PFAS contamination from both military installations and industrial sources. Bradley International Airport, former military facilities, and manufacturing sites have contributed to PFAS loading in Connecticut groundwater. The state has set its own MCL of 20 ppt for a mixture of PFAS compounds — more protective than prior federal guidance.
Where does PFAS come from in Connecticut?
Connecticut's PFAS contamination comes from fire training areas at Bradley International Airport and former military facilities, as well as industrial discharges from manufacturers in the Connecticut River Valley. Groundwater in parts of Hartford, Tolland, and Litchfield counties has documented PFAS. Connecticut's high well water usage in rural areas increases private well owner exposure.
What should Connecticut residents know?
Connecticut set its own drinking water standard (20 ppt sum of six PFAS compounds) effective 2021, making it one of the more protective state standards in the country before the federal MCL. This means Connecticut utilities have already been testing and some have installed treatment. The new federal 4 ppt MCL for PFOA and PFOS is more stringent and will require additional action from some systems.
Key Facts
| EPA MCL (PFOA/PFOS) | 4 ppt — effective April 2024 |
| Connecticut MCL | 20 ppt (sum of 6 PFAS) — effective 2021; one of earliest state standards |
| MCLG | Zero |
| Primary contamination sources | Bradley International Airport fire training, former military facilities, Connecticut River Valley industrial sites |
| Private well exposure | ~30% of Connecticut residents use private wells — unregulated for PFAS |
| State regulator | Connecticut Department of Public Health |
| Health effects | Cancer (kidney, testicular), thyroid disruption, immune effects, developmental toxicity |
| Effective treatment | Reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58) for households; GAC or ion exchange at utility scale |
Why PFAS Matters in Connecticut
Connecticut was among the first states to adopt its own PFAS drinking water standard, driven by documented contamination at Bradley International Airport and concerns from industrial manufacturing history in the Connecticut River Valley. The state's MCL of 20 ppt for the sum of PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA (GenX), and PFBS prompted broad utility testing and some treatment installations before the federal rule was finalized. Connecticut also has a significant private well population — approximately 30% of residents use private wells — and well owners are not protected by utility standards.
Connecticut PFAS Regulation
State MCL — Stricter Than Federal
10 ppt PFOA, 10 ppt PFOS — adopted 2020, more protective than original federal advisory levels.
Connecticut DPH adopted a 10 ppt PFOA and 10 ppt PFOS maximum contaminant level in 2020 — among the earliest state standards in the country. The state has required utilities to test and treat since 2021, giving Connecticut one of the more established PFAS compliance records. Connecticut's standard predates the federal rule and covers the same primary compounds.
Largest Connecticut Water Utilities
No PFAS violations on record in EPA SDWIS for Connecticut utilities in our database. Browse the largest utilities to review their full water quality record.
What Are PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)?
PFAS are a family of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals used in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and AFFF firefighting foam. Their carbon-fluorine bonds do not break down in the environment or the body — hence the name “forever chemicals.” AFFF used at military bases is the single largest source of PFAS in U.S. drinking water.
Full PFAS overview — national data, health effects, all 50 statesWho Should Pay Closest Attention
Residents near Bradley International Airport (Windsor Locks, Windsor, Suffield areas), private well owners in rural Litchfield and Tolland counties, and communities near former industrial manufacturing sites in the Connecticut River Valley corridor should prioritize testing and review available data.
Residents near military bases with AFFF use history
Private well owners near military or industrial sites
Pregnant residents and families with young children
Residents in communities with documented PFAS detections
Anyone who has consumed water above 4 ppt for an extended period
Residents near airports, fire training areas, or industrial manufacturers
How to Check Your Situation in Connecticut
- 1
Identify your water utility using the ZIP lookup below or by browsing the Connecticut utility directory on this site.
- 2
Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — it must report PFAS monitoring results under UCMR5 and the new MCL.
- 3
Check the EPA's ECHO database for your utility's monitoring history. Look for PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, and related compound results.
- 4
Contact your utility directly and ask for their most recent PFAS test results and whether they are implementing treatment under the 2024 MCL.
- 5
If you use a private well near a military base, airport, or industrial facility, order a PFAS panel test from a state-certified laboratory. Tests typically cost $150–$400.
- 6
If PFAS is detected above 4 ppt in your source water, install a certified NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system or an NSF/ANSI 53-certified activated carbon filter rated for PFAS removal.
How to Remove PFAS from Tap Water
Reverse Osmosis (Best)
90–99% removal — NSF/ANSI 58 certified systems only
Certified Activated Carbon
Effective with NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification — verify before buying
Boiling concentrates PFAS. Standard pitcher filters and water softeners do not remove PFAS. Always verify NSF certification before purchasing.
Take Action Now
Look up your Connecticut utility's PFAS monitoring history on the PFAS Watchlist below.
If your utility has detected PFAS above 4 ppt, install an NSF/ANSI 58-certified reverse osmosis system at your drinking tap.
Private well owners near military or industrial sites should order a PFAS panel test ($150–$400 at a state-certified lab).
Request your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report — PFAS results must be disclosed under the new 2024 MCL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
PFAS — National Overview
All U.S. utilities with PFAS records
Connecticut PFAS Watchlist
Live utility PFAS monitoring data
Connecticut State Overview
All utilities and water quality data
Reverse Osmosis Guide
Removes 90–99% of PFAS
Activated Carbon Filter Guide
NSF/ANSI 53/58 certified options for PFAS
Arsenic in Drinking Water
Another priority contaminant
All Contaminants
Complete reference library
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.
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Connecticut Department of Public Health ↗