PFAS in Oudenaarde's tap water: 2.4 ng/L, 4.8x our 0.5 ng/L benchmark
PFAS figure: annual value · Source: VMM
PFAS in drinking water
4.8× above our health benchmark
0.5 ng/L is our benchmark, not an official limit. Same EFSA method as Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, but stricter. It's a yearly average, compared here with the latest check.
The PFAS figures are the 2024 annual median for supply area Farys1, the area with the highest PFAS-4 median among the 2 areas serving Oudenaarde. The page leads with the median, the typical value in the network. The highest single PFAS-4 measurement in that area in 2024 was 8 ng/L.
More about this result
The US also limits PFOA and PFOS to 4 ng/L each, per substance.
One of these four, PFOA, is classified as causing cancer in humans by the WHO's cancer research agency (IARC).
More PFAS than in 64% of the cities we track
checked on 31 December 2024
Above our health benchmark. Here are some filter options.
- Legal limit (Belgium and EU)
- 6.5 ng/L sum of 20 PFAS, below the 100 ng/L limit
- Reporting year
- 2024 annual median in the supply area
- Water supplier
- Farys
In Oudenaarde, the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) add up to 2.4 ng/L (0.0024 µg/L) at the annual figure (median in the network) on 31 December 2024. That's 4.8 times our 0.5 ng/L health benchmark, but below Sweden's legal limit of 4 ng/L. Sum of 20 PFAS: 6.5 ng/L (0.0065 µg/l), below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). Source: Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM) – Kwaliteit van het drinkwater 2024, bijlage 2.
Details and sources
What the latest check found
The authorities have not published an overall verdict for this water.
See all 26 test results
| What was tested | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · maximum 2024 · Farys1 | 0.008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | above the 2028 target |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · maximum 2024 · Farys1 | 0.027 µg/l | ≤ 0.1 µg/l | within the limit |
| PFAS total · median 2024 · Farys5 | 0.01 µg/l | ≤ 0.5 µg/l | within the limit |
| PFAS total · maximum 2024 · Farys5 | 0.18 µg/l | ≤ 0.5 µg/l | within the limit |
| Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) · median 2024 · Farys5 | 1.8 µg/l | ≤ 15.6 µg/l | within the limit |
| Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) · maximum 2024 · Farys5 | 1.9 µg/l | ≤ 15.6 µg/l | within the limit |
| Nitrate · median 2024 · Farys1 | 13.7 mg/l | ≤ 50 mg/l | within the limit |
| Nitrite · median 2024 · Farys1 | 0 mg/l | ≤ 0.5 mg/l | within the limit |
| Lead · median 2024 · Farys1 | 0 µg/l | ≤ 10 µg/l | within the limit |
| Copper · median 2024 · Farys1 | 0.0025 mg/l | ≤ 2 mg/l | within the limit |
| Nickel · median 2024 · Farys1 | 0 µg/l | ≤ 20 µg/l | within the limit |
| Arsenic · median 2024 · Farys1 | 0 µg/l | ≤ 10 µg/l | within the limit |
| Cadmium · median 2024 · Farys1 | 0 µg/l | ≤ 5 µg/l | within the limit |
| Chromium · median 2024 · Farys1 | 0 µg/l | ≤ 50 µg/l | within the limit |
| Uranium · median 2024 · Farys1 | 1.5 µg/l | ≤ 30 µg/l | within the limit |
| Fluoride · median 2024 · Farys5 | 0.17 mg/l | ≤ 1.5 mg/l | within the limit |
| Escherichia coli · median 2024 · Farys1 | 0 /100 ml | ≤ 0 /100 ml | within the limit |
| Enterococci · median 2024 · Farys1 | 0 /100 ml | ≤ 0 /100 ml | within the limit |
| Coliform bacteria · median 2024 · Farys1 | 0 /100 ml | ≤ 0 /100 ml | within the limit |
| pH · median 2024 · Farys1 | 7.5 | 6.5–9.2 | within the limit |
| Water hardness · median 2024 · Farys5 | 44.3 Fr° | ≤ 67.5 Fr° | within the limit |
| Electrical conductivity · median 2024 · Farys5 | 782 µS/cm | ≤ 2,100 µS/cm | within the limit |
| Chloride · median 2024 · Farys5 | 39 mg/l | ≤ 250 mg/l | within the limit |
| Sulphate · median 2024 · Farys1 | 98 mg/l | ≤ 250 mg/l | within the limit |
| Sodium · median 2024 · Farys1 | 21 mg/l | ≤ 200 mg/l | within the limit |
| Iron · median 2024 · Farys1 | 0 µg/l | ≤ 200 µg/l | within the limit |
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water in Oudenaarde safe to drink?
All the values shown here (31 December 2024) are within the legal limits, but the authorities have not published an overall verdict for this water.
How high are PFAS levels in Oudenaarde's drinking water?
The total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was last measured at 6.5 ng/L. The EU limit is 100 ng/L, so this water is at 6 % of the limit. (below the EU limit)
Does the water in Oudenaarde also meet the strictest limits in Europe?
Yes. Even against Europe's strictest legal limit, Sweden's 4 ng/L in force since 2026, the measured value of 2.4 ng/L stays below.
Which PFAS limits apply in Belgium?
Belgium applies the EU limit of 100 ng/L for the sum of 20 PFAS as binding law (Flemish Drinkwaterbesluit of 2023, Walloon Code de l'eau since February 2025). For the four most harmful PFAS (PFAS-4) all three regions set a target of 4 ng/L that becomes binding in 2028. This site's 0.5 ng/L benchmark is stricter than both.
How hard is the water in Oudenaarde?
The water hardness in Oudenaarde is 44.3 Fr° (hard). This mainly matters for household appliances and detergent dosing, not for health.
Where does this data come from?
All values come from official publications: Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM) – Kwaliteit van het drinkwater 2024, bijlage 2. Retrieved on 28 September 2026.
Same water network
Same distribution network as Oudenaarde, so in principle the same water.
Nearby cities
The closest to Oudenaarde on this site.
Data source
- Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM) – Kwaliteit van het drinkwater 2024, bijlage 2
- https://vmm.vlaanderen.be/feiten-cijfers/water/drinkwater/kwaliteit-drinkwater-per-leveringsgebied
- License
- Modellicentie voor gratis hergebruik (Vlaamse overheid) – https://vmm.vlaanderen.be/disclaimer
- Retrieved
- 28 September 2026
- Supply networks
- Farys1 (Farys), Farys5 (Farys)
Flanders: Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM), drinking water quality 2024, one annual figure per supply area (median and maximum of the measurements in the network). Licence: free reuse with attribution (Flemish model licence). Next edition expected in October 2026.
Limits in Belgium. Belgium applies the EU limit of 100 ng/L for the sum of 20 PFAS as binding law (Flemish Drinkwaterbesluit of 2023, Walloon Code de l'eau since February 2025). For the four most harmful PFAS (PFAS-4) all three regions set a target of 4 ng/L that becomes binding in 2028. This site's 0.5 ng/L benchmark is stricter than both.
Jaarcijfers 2024 van de metingen in het distributienet per leveringsgebied (VMM). De getoonde waarde is de mediaan van 2024; het maximum staat als aparte waarde "Maximale concentratie". 0 = niet gedetecteerd (onder de rapportagegrens). De gemeente valt in 2 leveringsgebieden (Farys1, Farys5); de PFAS-cijfers komen uit leveringsgebied Farys1, het gebied met de hoogste mediane PFAS-4-waarde.
Water report for Oudenaarde
Get new PFAS results for Oudenaarde, with a short explanation. At most one update a week, only when there's something new.
This site is a data project, not an official source. If in doubt, check with your water supplier or local authority.