PFAS in Willebroek's tap water: 3.9 ng/L, 7.8x our 0.5 ng/L benchmark

PFAS figure: annual value · Source: VMM

PFAS in drinking water

7.8× above our health benchmark

Amount found in the water 3.9 ng/L 0.0039 µg/L · the 4 most harmful PFAS (PFAS-4)
Our health benchmark 0.5 ng/L

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 Pidpa14, which serves Willebroek. The page leads with the median, the typical value in the network. The highest single PFAS-4 measurement in that area in 2024 was 5.2 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 85% of the cities we track

Above our health benchmark. Here are some filter options.

Legal limit (Belgium and EU)
none detected sum of 20 PFAS below the detection limit, limit 100 ng/L
Reporting year
2024 annual median in the supply area
Water supplier
Pidpa

In Willebroek, the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) add up to 3.9 ng/L (0.0039 µg/L) at the annual figure (median in the network) on 31 December 2024. That's 7.8 times our 0.5 ng/L health benchmark, but below Sweden's legal limit of 4 ng/L. Sum of 20 PFAS: not detected, below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). Source: Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM) – Kwaliteit van het drinkwater 2024, bijlage 2.

Details and sources
Water supplier: Pidpa Latest water check: 31 December 2024 Data updated on

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 · Pidpa14 0.0052 µg/L ≤ 0.004 µg/L above the 2028 target
Sum of 20 PFAS · maximum 2024 · Pidpa14 not quantified ≤ 0.1 µg/l within the limit
PFAS total · median 2024 · Pidpa14 not quantified ≤ 0.5 µg/l within the limit
PFAS total · maximum 2024 · Pidpa14 not quantified ≤ 0.5 µg/l within the limit
Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) · median 2024 · Pidpa14 1.2 µg/l ≤ 15.6 µg/l within the limit
Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) · maximum 2024 · Pidpa14 2 µg/l ≤ 15.6 µg/l within the limit
Nitrate · median 2024 · Pidpa14 4.7945 mg/l ≤ 50 mg/l within the limit
Nitrite · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0.0006 mg/l ≤ 0.5 mg/l within the limit
Lead · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0 µg/l ≤ 10 µg/l within the limit
Copper · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0 mg/l ≤ 2 mg/l within the limit
Nickel · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0.6704 µg/l ≤ 20 µg/l within the limit
Arsenic · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0.402 µg/l ≤ 10 µg/l within the limit
Cadmium · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0.001 µg/l ≤ 5 µg/l within the limit
Chromium · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0 µg/l ≤ 50 µg/l within the limit
Uranium · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0.2044 µg/l ≤ 30 µg/l within the limit
Fluoride · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0.153 mg/l ≤ 1.5 mg/l within the limit
Escherichia coli · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0 /100 ml ≤ 0 /100 ml within the limit
Enterococci · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0 /100 ml ≤ 0 /100 ml within the limit
Coliform bacteria · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0 /100 ml ≤ 0 /100 ml within the limit
pH · median 2024 · Pidpa14 7.89 6.5–9.2 within the limit
Water hardness · median 2024 · Pidpa14 16.4385 Fr° ≤ 67.5 Fr° within the limit
Electrical conductivity · median 2024 · Pidpa14 384.6847 µS/cm ≤ 2,100 µS/cm within the limit
Chloride · median 2024 · Pidpa14 28.5836 mg/l ≤ 250 mg/l within the limit
Sulphate · median 2024 · Pidpa14 46.1206 mg/l ≤ 250 mg/l within the limit
Sodium · median 2024 · Pidpa14 18.914 mg/l ≤ 200 mg/l within the limit
Iron · median 2024 · Pidpa14 0 µg/l ≤ 200 µg/l within the limit

Frequently asked questions

Is tap water in Willebroek 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 Willebroek's drinking water?

At the latest check the total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was reported as not detected; the laboratory did not state its reporting limit. The EU limit is 100 ng/L. (below the EU limit)

Does the water in Willebroek 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 3.9 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 Willebroek?

The water hardness in Willebroek is 16.4 Fr° (medium). 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 Willebroek, so in principle the same water.

Nearby cities

The closest to Willebroek 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
Pidpa14 (Pidpa)

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). Leveringsgebied Pidpa14.

This site is a data project, not an official source. If in doubt, check with your water supplier or local authority.