PFAS · Minnesota
PFAS in Minnesota drinking water: EPA’s final survey results
EPA’s national PFAS survey (UCMR 5) tested 197 of the community water systems that serve homes in Minnesota. 88 found at least one of 29 PFAS above the laboratory reporting level, and 10 had a PFOA or PFOS sampling-location yearly average at or above EPA’s 4.0 ppt limit. Samples were collected from January 2023 to February 2026.
Data as of EPA UCMR 5 final release, August 2026 (file dated Aug 28, 2026) · EPA SDWIS 2026Q2 (file dated Jul 9, 2026). How we build these pages
PFBA was the compound Minnesota community systems found most often: 82 of 197 tested systems measured it above the reporting level. Across the country, 35% of surveyed community systems found at least one PFAS; in Minnesota the share is 45%. The largest Minnesota system with a detection, Minneapolis, serves 425,300 people and found 1 of the 29 compounds.
Which PFAS were found most often in Minnesota
Each row counts the Minnesota community water systems where that compound was measured above the reporting level at least once. A detection is a measurement, not a violation: most of these compounds have no federal limit.
| Compound | Systems where found | Systems tested | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFBA | 82 | 197 | 42% |
| PFHxS | 18 | 197 | 9% |
| PFPeA | 17 | 197 | 9% |
| PFBS | 12 | 197 | 6% |
| PFOS | 12 | 197 | 6% |
| PFOA | 11 | 197 | 6% |
| PFHxA | 9 | 197 | 5% |
| PFHpA | 2 | 197 | 1% |
Minnesota systems with the most PFAS found
The 10 surveyed community water systems that found the most different PFAS, with PFOA and PFOS compared to EPA’s 4.0 ppt limits on the yearly average at the highest sampling location. Larger systems come first when counts tie.
| Water system | People served | PFAS found (of 29) | PFOA | PFOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauk Rapids MN1050004 | 13,835 | 8 | 6.6 ppt at or above the MCL | 9.5 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Waite Park MN1730039 | 8,354 | 8 | 5.5 ppt at or above the MCL | 16.5 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Woodbury MN1820025 | 82,643 | 7 | 12.9 ppt at or above the MCL | 4.9 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Hastings MN1190012 | 23,222 | 7 | 21.1 ppt at or above the MCL | 4.6 ppt at or above the MCL |
| South Saint Paul MN1190020 | 20,664 | 6 | 3.8 ppt below the MCL | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Becker MN1710008 | 5,034 | 6 | 2.2 ppt below the MCL | 4.6 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Brooklyn Park MN1270005 | 89,995 | 5 | 10.1 ppt at or above the MCL | 9.5 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Stillwater MN1820024 | 19,462 | 5 | 2.0 ppt below the MCL | 7.6 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Oak Park Heights MN1820020 | 4,776 | 5 | — not detected above the reporting level | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Shakopee MN1700009 | 47,000 | 4 | — not detected above the reporting level | — not detected above the reporting level |
Counties with the most systems that found PFAS
- Hennepin County 20 of 25 surveyed systems
- Washington County 11 of 12 surveyed systems
- Ramsey County 10 of 11 surveyed systems
- Anoka County 10 of 12 surveyed systems
- Dakota County 8 of 9 surveyed systems
- Stearns County 6 of 8 surveyed systems
- Sherburne County 3 of 4 surveyed systems
- Clay County 2 of 2 surveyed systems