PFAS in Hamburg's tap water: under 8 ng/L, none of the four main PFAS detected
PFAS figure: annual value · Source: Hamburg Wasser
PFAS in drinking water
No PFAS detected
The lab sees nothing below 8 ng/L, 16 times our benchmark of 0.5 ng/L. Water above our benchmark would pass this check unnoticed.
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 "Wasserwerk Baursberg", the one with the highest PFAS-4 value among the 16 waterworks or sampling points serving Hamburg. 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.
The lab detects each of the four substances from 2 ng/L upward. None reached that limit, so their total is below 8 ng/L rather than zero.
checked on 31 December 2025
20 PFAS (see each substance)
| PFAS substance | Value |
|---|---|
| PFBA | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFBS | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFDA | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFDoDA | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFDoDS | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFDS | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFHpA | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFHpS | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFHxA | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFHxS | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFNA | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFNS | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFOA | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFOS | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFPeA | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFPeS | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFTrDA | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFTrDS | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFUnDA | <0,002 µg/L |
| PFUnDS | <0,002 µg/L |
None found. The lab sees nothing below 8 ng/L, so our 0.5 ng/L benchmark cannot be checked.
Water report for Hamburg
Get new PFAS results for Hamburg, with a short explanation. At most one update a week, only when there's something new.
- Legal limit (Germany and EU)
- none detected sum of 20 PFAS below the detection limit, limit 100 ng/L
- Reporting year
- 2025 utility's annual figure
- Water supplier
- Hamburg Wasser
In Hamburg, none of the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) was detected at the utility's annual figure on 31 December 2025. The total is below 8 ng/L, the sum of the detection limits and 16 times our 0.5 ng/L benchmark. Sum of 20 PFAS: <0,04 µg/L, below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). Source: Hamburg Wasser – Detailanalysen der Wasserwerke (Stand 2026-01-29).
Details and sources
What the latest check found
The authorities have not published an overall verdict for this water.
See all 52 test results
| What was tested | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Bergedorf | <0,006 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Bostelbek | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Glinde | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Großensee | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Großhansdorf | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Haseldorfer Marsch | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Langenhorn | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Lohbrügge | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Neugraben | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Nordheide | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Rothenburgsort | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Schnelsen | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Stellingen | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Süderelbmarsch | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Walddörfer | <0,008 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Bergedorf | <0,03 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Bostelbek | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Glinde | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Großensee | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Großhansdorf | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Haseldorfer Marsch | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Langenhorn | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Lohbrügge | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Neugraben | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Nordheide | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Rothenburgsort | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Schnelsen | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Stellingen | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Süderelbmarsch | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Walddörfer | <0,04 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) | 0.5 µg/l | no limit | for reference |
| Nitrate | 10.1 mg/l | ≤ 50 mg/l | within the limit |
| Nitrite | 0.02 mg/l | ≤ 0.1 mg/l | within the limit |
| Lead | <1 µg/l | ≤ 10 µg/l | within the limit |
| Copper | 2 µg/l | ≤ 2,000 µg/l | within the limit |
| Nickel | <1 µg/l | ≤ 20 µg/l | within the limit |
| Arsenic | <0,5 µg/l | ≤ 10 µg/l | within the limit |
| Cadmium | <0,1 µg/l | ≤ 3 µg/l | within the limit |
| Chromium | <0,5 µg/l | ≤ 25 µg/l | within the limit |
| Uranium | 0.5 µg/l | ≤ 10 µg/l | within the limit |
| Fluoride | 0.17 mg/l | ≤ 1.5 mg/l | within the limit |
| Escherichia coli | 0 /100 ml | ≤ 0 /100 ml | within the limit |
| Enterococci | 0 /100 ml | ≤ 0 /100 ml | within the limit |
| Coliform bacteria | 0 /100 ml | ≤ 0 /100 ml | within the limit |
| pH | 7.67 - | 6.5–9.5 - | within the limit |
| Water hardness | 17.43 °dH | no limit | for reference |
| Electrical conductivity | 822 µS/cm | ≤ 2,790 µS/cm | within the limit |
| Chloride | 94 mg/l | ≤ 250 mg/l | within the limit |
| Sulphate | 151 mg/l | ≤ 250 mg/l | within the limit |
| Sodium | 84.1 mg/l | ≤ 200 mg/l | within the limit |
| Iron | 0.03 mg/l | ≤ 0.2 mg/l | within the limit |
| Turbidity | 0.35 NTU | ≤ 1 NTU | within the limit |
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water in Hamburg 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 Hamburg's drinking water?
At the latest check the total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was below the laboratory's reporting limit of 40 ng/L. The EU limit is 100 ng/L, so this water is under 40 % of the limit. (below the EU limit)
Does the water in Hamburg also meet the strictest limits in Europe?
The check cannot say. None of the four compounds was quantified, but the laboratory's detection limits add up to 8 ng/L, above Sweden's legal limit of 4 ng/L in force since 2026, so a value between the two would go unnoticed.
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 Hamburg?
The water hardness in Hamburg is 17.4 °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: Hamburg Wasser – Detailanalysen der Wasserwerke (Stand 2026-01-29). Retrieved on 28 September 2026.
Nearby cities
The closest to Hamburg on this site.
Data source
- Hamburg Wasser – Detailanalysen der Wasserwerke (Stand 2026-01-29)
- https://www.hamburgwasser.de/wasser/detailanalysen-wasserwerke
- License
- Veröffentlichung von Hamburg Wasser (Hamburger Wasserwerke GmbH); Sachdaten mit Quellenangabe wiedergegeben (keine offene Lizenz angegeben)
- Retrieved
- 28 September 2026
- Supply networks
- Wasserwerk Baursberg, Wasserwerk Bergedorf, Wasserwerk Bostelbek, Wasserwerk Glinde, Wasserwerk Großensee, Wasserwerk Großhansdorf, Wasserwerk Haseldorfer Marsch, Wasserwerk Langenhorn, Wasserwerk Lohbrügge, Wasserwerk Neugraben, Wasserwerk Nordheide, Wasserwerk Rothenburgsort, Wasserwerk Schnelsen, Wasserwerk Stellingen, Wasserwerk Süderelbmarsch, Wasserwerk Walddörfer
Hamburg Wasser: Detailed analyses of the waterworks, annual means per works (HTML tables). Latest value dated 31 December 2025. Hamburg Wasser refreshes the tables at the start of the year; quarterly values continuously.
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 Wasserwerk aus den Detailanalysen von Hamburg Wasser (HTML-Tabellen, Stand der Analyse 2026-01-29), Angaben in µg/l. Hamburg Wasser gibt eine Summe, deren Einzelstoffe alle unter der Bestimmungsgrenze lagen, als 0 an; die Seite zeigt dafür die Obergrenze aus den Bestimmungsgrenzen. Der Jahreshöchstwert steht als „Maximalwert“ in der Tabelle. Für Hamburg liegen 16 Werke bzw. Messstellen vor (Wasserwerk Baursberg, Wasserwerk Bergedorf, Wasserwerk Bostelbek, Wasserwerk Glinde, Wasserwerk Großensee, Wasserwerk Großhansdorf, Wasserwerk Haseldorfer Marsch, Wasserwerk Langenhorn, Wasserwerk Lohbrügge, Wasserwerk Neugraben, Wasserwerk Nordheide, Wasserwerk Rothenburgsort, Wasserwerk Schnelsen, Wasserwerk Stellingen, Wasserwerk Süderelbmarsch, Wasserwerk Walddörfer). Die PFAS-Kennzahl der Seite stammt aus „Wasserwerk Baursberg“, der Messstelle mit dem höchsten PFAS-4-Wert; die übrigen stehen in der Tabelle. Nächste Aktualisierung: Jahresmittelwerte 2026, voraussichtlich Anfang 2027; Quartalswerte laufend
This site is a data project, not an official source. If in doubt, check with your water supplier or local authority.