PFAS in Duisburg's tap water: 5.8 ng/L, 11.6x our 0.5 ng/L benchmark
PFAS figure: annual value · Source: Stadtwerke Duisburg
PFAS in drinking water
11.6× 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 come from the sampling point "Versorgungsbereich 2, nördlich der Ruhr ohne Homberg und Baerl", the one with the highest PFAS-4 value among the 4 waterworks or sampling points serving Duisburg. The others are in the table of all values; the tap often carries a blend of several works.
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 68% of the cities we track
checked on 31 December 2025
Above our health benchmark. Here are some filter options.
- Legal limit (Germany and EU)
- 16 ng/L sum of 20 PFAS, below the 100 ng/L limit
- Reporting year
- 2025 utility's annual figure
- Water supplier
- Stadtwerke Duisburg
In Duisburg, the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) add up to 5.8 ng/L (0.0058 µg/L) at the utility's annual figure on 31 December 2025. That's 11.6 times our 0.5 ng/L health benchmark, and above Sweden's legal limit of 4 ng/L. Sum of 20 PFAS: 16 ng/L (0.016 µg/L), below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). Source: Stadtwerke Duisburg – Trinkwasseranalyse, Jahresmittelwerte 2025 und Quartal 1/2026.
Details and sources
What the latest check found
The authorities have not published an overall verdict for this water.
See all 17 test results
| What was tested | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · annual maximum · sampling point Versorgungsbereich 2, nördlich der Ruhr ohne Homberg und Baerl | 0.0092 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | above the health reference (4 ng/L) |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Versorgungsbereich 1, südlich der Ruhr einschließlich Rheinhausen | not quantified | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Versorgungsbereich 3, Homberg | 0.0019 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Versorgungsbereich 4, Baerl | 0.0032 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · annual maximum · sampling point Versorgungsbereich 1, südlich der Ruhr einschließlich Rheinhausen | 0.028 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Versorgungsbereich 1, südlich der Ruhr einschließlich Rheinhausen | 0.012 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Versorgungsbereich 3, Homberg | 0.0097 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Versorgungsbereich 4, Baerl | 0.014 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Nitrate | 17 mg/L | ≤ 50 mg/L | within the limit |
| Uranium | 0.8 µg/L | ≤ 10 µg/L | within the limit |
| Fluoride | 0.1 mg/L | ≤ 1.5 mg/L | within the limit |
| Water hardness | 18 °dH | no limit | for reference |
| Electrical conductivity | 720 µS/cm | ≤ 2,790 µS/cm | within the limit |
| Chloride | 56 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sulphate | 70 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sodium | 29 mg/L | ≤ 200 mg/L | within the limit |
| Turbidity | 0.1 NTU | ≤ 1 NTU | within the limit |
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water in Duisburg safe to drink?
All the values shown here (31 December 2025) are within the legal limits, but the authorities have not published an overall verdict for this water.
How high are PFAS levels in Duisburg's drinking water?
The total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was last measured at 16 ng/L. The EU limit is 100 ng/L, so this water is at 16 % of the limit. (below the EU limit)
Does the water in Duisburg also meet the strictest limits in Europe?
No. The four most harmful PFAS add up to 5.8 ng/L. That is 1.45 times Sweden's legal limit of 4 ng/L, in force since 2026. Germany will set a similar one in 2028. The water still passes the current EU legal limit (100 ng/L for the total of 20 PFAS).
Which PFAS limits apply in Germany?
Germany's Trinkwasserverordnung of 2023 adopts the EU limit of 100 ng/L for the sum of 20 PFAS, binding since 12 January 2026. For the four most harmful PFAS (PFAS-4) a limit of 20 ng/L applies from 12 January 2028. This site's 0.5 ng/L benchmark and the 4 ng/L used as the health reference (Sweden's limit) are stricter than both.
How hard is the water in Duisburg?
The water hardness in Duisburg is 18 °dH (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: Stadtwerke Duisburg – Trinkwasseranalyse, Jahresmittelwerte 2025 und Quartal 1/2026. Retrieved on 28 September 2026.
Nearby cities
The closest to Duisburg on this site.
Data source
- Stadtwerke Duisburg – Trinkwasseranalyse, Jahresmittelwerte 2025 und Quartal 1/2026
- https://www.swdu.de/privatkunden/themen/trinkwasser-fuer-duisburg
- License
- Veröffentlichung von Stadtwerke Duisburg AG; Sachdaten mit Quellenangabe wiedergegeben (keine offene Lizenz angegeben)
- Retrieved
- 28 September 2026
- Supply networks
- Versorgungsbereich 1, südlich der Ruhr einschließlich Rheinhausen, Versorgungsbereich 2, nördlich der Ruhr ohne Homberg und Baerl, Versorgungsbereich 3, Homberg, Versorgungsbereich 4, Baerl
Stadtwerke Duisburg: Drinking-water analysis per supply area, annual means and latest quarter (PDF). Latest value dated 31 December 2025. Quarterly, about a month after the end of the quarter.
Limits in Germany. Germany's Trinkwasserverordnung of 2023 adopts the EU limit of 100 ng/L for the sum of 20 PFAS, binding since 12 January 2026. For the four most harmful PFAS (PFAS-4) a limit of 20 ng/L applies from 12 January 2028. This site's 0.5 ng/L benchmark and the 4 ng/L used as the health reference (Sweden's limit) are stricter than both.
Jahresmittelwerte 2025 je Versorgungsbereich aus den Trinkwasseranalysen der Stadtwerke Duisburg (PDF je Bereich), PFAS in ng/l in µg/L umgerechnet. Der Jahresmittelwert zählt Messwerte unter der Bestimmungsgrenze als 0; „n.n.“ (Mittelwert unter der Bestimmungsgrenze) ist als 0 gespeichert. Jahreshöchstwert und der Mittelwert des letzten Quartals stehen in der Tabelle. Für Duisburg liegen 4 Werke bzw. Messstellen vor (Versorgungsbereich 1, südlich der Ruhr einschließlich Rheinhausen, Versorgungsbereich 2, nördlich der Ruhr ohne Homberg und Baerl, Versorgungsbereich 3, Homberg, Versorgungsbereich 4, Baerl). Die PFAS-Kennzahl der Seite stammt aus „Versorgungsbereich 2, nördlich der Ruhr ohne Homberg und Baerl“, der Messstelle mit dem höchsten PFAS-4-Wert; die übrigen stehen in der Tabelle. Nächste Aktualisierung: vierteljährlich, das nächste Quartal etwa einen Monat nach Quartalsende
Water report for Duisburg
Get new PFAS results for Duisburg, 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.