PFAS in Leipzig's tap water: 10 ng/L, 20x our 0.5 ng/L benchmark
Last PFAS check: · Source: Leipziger Wasserwerke
PFAS in drinking water
20× 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 "Wasserwerk Thallwitz", the one with the highest PFAS-4 value among the 7 waterworks or sampling points serving Leipzig. 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 84% of the cities we track
checked on 31 December 2025
Above our health benchmark. Here are some filter options.
- Legal limit (Germany and EU)
- 34 ng/L sum of 20 PFAS, below the 100 ng/L limit
- Last PFAS test
- 31 December 2025
- Water supplier
- Leipziger Wasserwerke
In Leipzig, the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) add up to 10 ng/L (0.01 µg/L) at the latest PFAS check on 31 December 2025. That's 20 times our 0.5 ng/L health benchmark, and above Sweden's legal limit of 4 ng/L. Sum of 20 PFAS: 34 ng/L (0.034 µg/L), below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). Source: Leipziger Wasserwerke – Jahresdurchschnittsanalyse 2025.
Details and sources
What the latest check found
The authorities have not published an overall verdict for this water.
Values to watch
These results are close to their legal limit, or over it.
| What was tested | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 0.008 mg/L | ≤ 0.01 mg/L | within the limit |
See all 33 test results
| What was tested | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Fernwasser aus dem Wasserwerk Torgau-Ost | <0,0015 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserversorgungsanlage Probstheida | <0,0015 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Belgershain | <0,0015 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Canitz | 0.0059 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | above the health reference (4 ng/L) |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Naunhof 1 | <0,0015 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Naunhof 2 | <0,0015 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Fernwasser aus dem Wasserwerk Torgau-Ost | <0,0015 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserversorgungsanlage Probstheida | <0,0015 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Belgershain | <0,0015 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Canitz | 0.021 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Naunhof 1 | <0,0015 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Naunhof 2 | <0,0015 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) | 3.9 µg/L | no limit | for reference |
| Nitrate | 23 mg/L | ≤ 50 mg/L | within the limit |
| Nitrite | <0,010 mg/L | ≤ 0.1 mg/L | within the limit |
| Lead | <0,0010 mg/L | ≤ 0.01 mg/L | within the limit |
| Copper | 0.01 mg/L | ≤ 2 mg/L | within the limit |
| Nickel | 0.0096 mg/L | ≤ 0.02 mg/L | within the limit |
| Arsenic | 0.008 mg/L | ≤ 0.01 mg/L | within the limit |
| Cadmium | 0.0004 mg/L | ≤ 0.003 mg/L | within the limit |
| Chromium | <0,0005 mg/L | ≤ 0.025 mg/L | within the limit |
| Uranium | 0.0019 mg/L | ≤ 0.01 mg/L | within the limit |
| Fluoride | 0.58 mg/L | ≤ 1.5 mg/L | within the limit |
| Escherichia coli | 0 MPN/100ml | ≤ 0 MPN/100ml | within the limit |
| Enterococci | 0 KBE/100 ml | ≤ 0 KBE/100 ml | within the limit |
| Coliform bacteria | 0 MPN/100ml | ≤ 0 MPN/100ml | within the limit |
| Water hardness | 17.5 °dH | no limit | for reference |
| Electrical conductivity | 789 µS/cm | ≤ 2,790 µS/cm | within the limit |
| Chloride | 60 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sulphate | 240 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sodium | 39 mg/L | ≤ 200 mg/L | within the limit |
| Iron | 0.039 mg/L | ≤ 0.2 mg/L | within the limit |
| Turbidity | 0.47 NTU | ≤ 1 NTU | within the limit |
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water in Leipzig 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 Leipzig's drinking water?
The total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was last measured at 34 ng/L. The EU limit is 100 ng/L, so this water is at 34 % of the limit. (below the EU limit)
Does the water in Leipzig also meet the strictest limits in Europe?
No. The four most harmful PFAS add up to 10 ng/L. That is 2.5 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 Leipzig?
The water hardness in Leipzig is 17.5 °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: Leipziger Wasserwerke – Jahresdurchschnittsanalyse 2025. Retrieved on 28 September 2026.
Nearby cities
The closest to Leipzig on this site.
Data source
- Leipziger Wasserwerke – Jahresdurchschnittsanalyse 2025
- https://www.l.de/wasserwerke/leipziger-wasser/inhaltsstoffe/
- License
- Veröffentlichung von Kommunale Wasserwerke Leipzig GmbH; Sachdaten mit Quellenangabe wiedergegeben (keine offene Lizenz angegeben)
- Retrieved
- 28 September 2026
- Supply networks
- Wasserwerk Thallwitz, Wasserwerk Canitz, Wasserwerk Naunhof 1, Wasserwerk Naunhof 2, Wasserversorgungsanlage Probstheida, Fernwasser aus dem Wasserwerk Torgau-Ost, Wasserwerk Belgershain
Leipziger Wasserwerke: Annual average analysis per supply point (PDF); individual compounds are not published. Latest value dated 31 December 2025. Annually, expected in March of the following year.
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.
Jahresdurchschnittswerte 2025 je Trinkwasserabgabestelle (Wasserwerke Thallwitz, Canitz, Naunhof 1 und 2, Belgershain, Wasserversorgungsanlage Probstheida und Fernwasser aus Torgau-Ost) aus dem PDF der Leipziger Wasserwerke, Angaben in mg/l in µg/L umgerechnet. Die Leipziger Wasserwerke verzichten auf die Darstellung der PFAS-Einzelstoffe; veröffentlicht werden die Summen PFAS-20 und PFAS-4 sowie TFA. Für Leipzig liegen 7 Werke bzw. Messstellen vor (Wasserwerk Thallwitz, Wasserwerk Canitz, Wasserwerk Naunhof 1, Wasserwerk Naunhof 2, Wasserversorgungsanlage Probstheida, Fernwasser aus dem Wasserwerk Torgau-Ost, Wasserwerk Belgershain). Die PFAS-Kennzahl der Seite stammt aus „Wasserwerk Thallwitz“, der Messstelle mit dem höchsten PFAS-4-Wert; die übrigen stehen in der Tabelle. Nächste Aktualisierung: Jahresdurchschnittsanalyse 2026, voraussichtlich im März 2027
Water report for Leipzig
Get new PFAS results for Leipzig, 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.