PFAS in Mannheim's tap water: 13 ng/L, 26x our 0.5 ng/L benchmark
Last PFAS check: · Source: MVV
PFAS in drinking water
26× 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 Rheinau", the one with the highest PFAS-4 value among the 3 waterworks or sampling points serving Mannheim. 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 92% of the cities we track
checked on 3 August 2026
Above our health benchmark. Here are some filter options.
- Legal limit (Germany and EU)
- 22 ng/L sum of 20 PFAS, below the 100 ng/L limit
- Last PFAS test
- 3 August 2026
- Water supplier
- MVV
In Mannheim, the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) add up to 13 ng/L (0.013 µg/L) at the latest PFAS check on 3 August 2026. That's 26 times our 0.5 ng/L health benchmark, and above Sweden's legal limit of 4 ng/L. Sum of 20 PFAS: 22 ng/L (0.022 µg/L), below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). Source: MVV Netze – Untersuchung von Trinkwasser (Parameter Typ B), Probenahme 2026-08-03.
Details and sources
What the latest check found
The authorities have not published an overall verdict for this water.
See all 23 test results
| What was tested | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Käfertal | <0,001 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Schwetzinger Hardt | <0,001 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Käfertal | <0,005 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Schwetzinger Hardt | <0,005 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Nitrate | 21 mg/L | ≤ 50 mg/L | within the limit |
| Nitrite | <0,05 mg/L | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | within the limit |
| Lead | <0,001 mg/L | ≤ 0.01 mg/L | within the limit |
| Copper | <0,002 mg/L | ≤ 2 mg/L | within the limit |
| Nickel | <0,002 mg/L | ≤ 0.02 mg/L | within the limit |
| Arsenic | <0,001 mg/L | ≤ 0.01 mg/L | within the limit |
| Cadmium | <0,0005 mg/L | ≤ 0.003 mg/L | within the limit |
| Chromium | <0,002 mg/L | ≤ 0.025 mg/L | within the limit |
| Uranium | 0.0009 mg/L | ≤ 0.01 mg/L | within the limit |
| Fluoride | <0,15 mg/L | ≤ 1.5 mg/L | within the limit |
| Escherichia coli | 0 KBE | ≤ 0 KBE | within the limit |
| Coliform bacteria | 0 KBE | ≤ 0 KBE | within the limit |
| Water hardness | 20.9 °dH | no limit | for reference |
| Electrical conductivity | 787 µS/cm | ≤ 2,790 µS/cm | within the limit |
| Chloride | 43 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sulphate | 82 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sodium | 29.6 mg/L | ≤ 200 mg/L | within the limit |
| Iron | 0.016 mg/L | ≤ 0.2 mg/L | within the limit |
| Turbidity | <0,1 NTU | ≤ 1 NTU | within the limit |
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water in Mannheim safe to drink?
All the values shown here (3 August 2026) are within the legal limits, but the authorities have not published an overall verdict for this water.
How high are PFAS levels in Mannheim's drinking water?
The total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was last measured at 22 ng/L. The EU limit is 100 ng/L, so this water is at 22 % of the limit. (below the EU limit)
Does the water in Mannheim also meet the strictest limits in Europe?
No. The four most harmful PFAS add up to 13 ng/L. That is 3.3 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 Mannheim?
The water hardness in Mannheim is 20.9 °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: MVV Netze – Untersuchung von Trinkwasser (Parameter Typ B), Probenahme 2026-08-03. Retrieved on 28 September 2026.
Nearby cities
The closest to Mannheim on this site.
Data source
- MVV Netze – Untersuchung von Trinkwasser (Parameter Typ B), Probenahme 2026-08-03
- https://www.mvv.de/wasser/wasserqualitaet
- License
- Veröffentlichung von MVV Energie AG / MVV Netze GmbH; Sachdaten mit Quellenangabe wiedergegeben (keine offene Lizenz angegeben)
- Retrieved
- 28 September 2026
- Supply networks
- Wasserwerk Käfertal, Wasserwerk Rheinau, Wasserwerk Schwetzinger Hardt
MVV: Drinking-water analysis (type B parameters), lab report per waterworks (PDF). Latest value dated 3 August 2026. Every two months; the reports are replaced at the same address.
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.
Einzelanalysen je Wasserwerk aus den Prüfberichten des MVV-Labors (PDF je Werk, Probenahme 2026-08-03), Angaben in µg/l; MVV untersucht die Werke alle zwei Monate und ersetzt die Berichte. Das Wasser aus Schwetzinger Hardt wird dem Werk Rheinau beigemischt. Für Mannheim liegen 3 Werke bzw. Messstellen vor (Wasserwerk Käfertal, Wasserwerk Rheinau, Wasserwerk Schwetzinger Hardt). Die PFAS-Kennzahl der Seite stammt aus „Wasserwerk Rheinau“, der Messstelle mit dem höchsten PFAS-4-Wert; die übrigen stehen in der Tabelle. Nächste Aktualisierung: alle zwei Monate, die Berichte werden unter derselben Adresse ersetzt
Water report for Mannheim
Get new PFAS results for Mannheim, 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.