Water Records Help
No PFAS Record Found: What That Means for Your Utility
No PFAS record found on Water Utility Report means no PFAS sampling data appeared in the federal datasets Water Utility Report aggregates for this system. It does not mean PFAS is absent from the water supply.
What this page helps with
- Understanding why PFAS records may be missing for a utility
- Knowing which systems were and were not required to monitor under UCMR 5
- Recognizing that absence of a record is not the same as confirmed absence of a contaminant
- Finding alternative sources for PFAS information
- Deciding whether household PFAS testing makes sense
Important: Water Utility Report summarizes official records and source data. It does not determine whether water is safe to drink. For current safety guidance, check your utility, state drinking water agency, local health department, or a certified laboratory.
What official records can show
- Whether a system participated in UCMR 5 monitoring and submitted results
- Detections above the minimum reporting level for the 29 UCMR 5 compounds
- The system size and type that determined UCMR 5 participation requirements
What official records may not show
- PFAS monitoring conducted at the state level that has not been entered into federal databases
- Results for PFAS compounds not included in the 29-compound UCMR 5 panel
- Historical PFAS data from utility-commissioned testing not reported to EPA
- PFAS from sources other than the water system (household plumbing, point-of-use exposure, etc.)
Why PFAS records may be absent
- UCMR 5 required systems serving 3,300 or more people to participate. Smaller systems were not required, and only a representative sample of smaller systems was included.
- Some systems completed monitoring but results have not yet been synced to EPA's public database.
- A system may have tested for PFAS at the state level without reporting to the UCMR 5 federal program.
- The utility may serve source water not considered high-risk under UCMR 5 site selection criteria.
Absence of a record is not confirmed absence
In epidemiology and environmental monitoring, the absence of data is not evidence of absence. A utility with no PFAS records may simply be outside the coverage of current federal monitoring programs. This is particularly relevant for smaller systems and those using groundwater sources in certain geographic areas.
Water Utility Report can only display records that exist in the federal databases it aggregates. If a system was not required to monitor, or if state-level data has not been submitted to EPA, no record will appear. This is a data gap, not a clearance.
Alternative sources to check
- Your state environmental agency may maintain PFAS monitoring data for systems not covered by UCMR 5.
- Your utility's Consumer Confidence Report may reference PFAS testing conducted independently.
- EWG's Tap Water Database aggregates some state-level PFAS data not yet in EPA federal records.
- A certified household water test using EPA Method 533 or 537.1 can provide PFAS information specific to your tap.
What to check next
What this does not mean
- This page does not determine whether water is safe or unsafe to drink.
- A detection record does not automatically mean a violation.
- A missing record does not prove a contaminant is absent.
- Federal datasets may lag behind current local conditions.
- Household plumbing, private wells, and point-of-use conditions may differ from utility-level records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does no PFAS record mean my water is free of PFAS?
No. The absence of a PFAS record in Water Utility Report means no data appeared in the federal databases we aggregate for this system. It does not confirm that PFAS is absent. The system may not have been required to monitor, or state-level data may not be in federal databases.
Which utilities were required to participate in UCMR 5?
All community water systems and non-transient non-community systems serving 3,300 or more people were required to participate. EPA also selected a random sample of smaller systems for inclusion.
Where can I find PFAS data for small utilities not in UCMR 5?
Check your state environmental agency's drinking water records. Some states have conducted their own PFAS monitoring programs covering smaller systems. Your utility may also have conducted voluntary testing — ask them directly.
Can I test my own water for PFAS even if the utility has no records?
Yes. A certified laboratory using EPA Method 533 or 537.1 can test a sample from your tap for PFAS compounds. This provides information about your specific tap, independent of utility-level sampling records.
Will more utilities get PFAS records in the future?
EPA's 2024 PFAS MCLs require all covered public water systems to conduct initial monitoring by April 2026. More monitoring data will be submitted to federal databases as this monitoring is completed.