PFAS in Münster's tap water: 10 ng/L, 20x our 0.5 ng/L benchmark
PFAS figure: annual value · Source: Stadtwerke Münster
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 "Bezug Albachten (Fremdbezug)", the one with the highest PFAS-4 value among the 4 waterworks or sampling points serving Münster. 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 2024
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
- Reporting year
- 2024 utility's annual figure
- Water supplier
- Stadtwerke Münster
In Münster, the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) add up to 10 ng/L (0.01 µg/L) at the utility's annual figure on 31 December 2024. 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: 22 ng/L (0.022 µg/L), below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). Source: Stadtwerke Münster – Trinkwasseranalytik 2024, Jahresmittelwerte (Open Data Münster).
Details and sources
What the latest check found
The authorities have not published an overall verdict for this water.
See all 27 test results
| What was tested | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Hohe Ward | 0.0055 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | above the health reference (4 ng/L) |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Hornheide | 0.006 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | above the health reference (4 ng/L) |
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) · sampling point Wasserwerk Vennheide | 0.005 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | above the health reference (4 ng/L) |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Hohe Ward | 0.018 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Hornheide | 0.021 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS · sampling point Wasserwerk Vennheide | 0.016 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Nitrate | 12.15 mg/L | ≤ 50 mg/L | within the limit |
| Nitrite | <0,02 mg/L | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | within the limit |
| Lead | <0,002 mg/L | ≤ 0.01 mg/L | within the limit |
| Copper | 0.0035 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 | <0,0002 mg/L | ≤ 0.003 mg/L | within the limit |
| Chromium | <0,0005 mg/L | ≤ 0.025 mg/L | within the limit |
| Uranium | 0.003 mg/L | ≤ 0.01 mg/L | within the limit |
| Fluoride | 0.2 mg/L | ≤ 1.5 mg/L | within the limit |
| Escherichia coli | 0 KBE/100 ml | ≤ 0 KBE/100 ml | within the limit |
| Enterococci | 0 KBE/100 ml | ≤ 0 KBE/100 ml | within the limit |
| Coliform bacteria | 0 KBE/100 ml | ≤ 0 KBE/100 ml | within the limit |
| pH | 7.5 pH-Einheiten | 6.5–9.5 pH-Einheiten | within the limit |
| Water hardness | 18.5 °dH | no limit | for reference |
| Electrical conductivity | 768 µS/cm | ≤ 2,790 µS/cm | within the limit |
| Chloride | 45.9 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sulphate | 96 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sodium | 29.4 mg/L | ≤ 200 mg/L | within the limit |
| Iron | 0.041 mg/L | ≤ 0.2 mg/L | within the limit |
| Turbidity | 0.16 ohne | ≤ 1 ohne | within the limit |
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water in Münster 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 Münster'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 Münster 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 Münster?
The water hardness in Münster is 18.5 °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: Stadtwerke Münster – Trinkwasseranalytik 2024, Jahresmittelwerte (Open Data Münster). Retrieved on 28 September 2026.
Nearby cities
The closest to Münster on this site.
Data source
- Stadtwerke Münster – Trinkwasseranalytik 2024, Jahresmittelwerte (Open Data Münster)
- https://opendata.stadt-muenster.de/dataset/trinkwasseranalyse-der-stadtwerke-m%C3%BCnster
- License
- Open Data Münster, Lizenz im Datensatz nicht angegeben („notspecified“); Herausgeber Stadtwerke Münster
- Retrieved
- 28 September 2026
- Supply networks
- Wasserwerk Hohe Ward, Wasserwerk Vennheide, Wasserwerk Hornheide, Bezug Albachten (Fremdbezug)
Stadtwerke Münster: Drinking-water analytics, annual means per waterworks (XLSX, Open Data Münster). Latest value dated 31 December 2024. Annually; the 2025 edition exists only as an image PDF so far and is taken over once it is machine-readable.
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 2024 je Wasserwerk aus der Trinkwasseranalytik der Stadtwerke Münster (XLSX im Open-Data-Portal der Stadt), Angaben in mg/l in µg/L umgerechnet. Die Ausgabe 2025 liegt bislang nur als Bild-PDF ohne Textebene vor und ist deshalb noch nicht ausgewertet. Für Münster liegen 4 Werke bzw. Messstellen vor (Wasserwerk Hohe Ward, Wasserwerk Vennheide, Wasserwerk Hornheide, Bezug Albachten (Fremdbezug)). Die PFAS-Kennzahl der Seite stammt aus „Bezug Albachten (Fremdbezug)“, der Messstelle mit dem höchsten PFAS-4-Wert; die übrigen stehen in der Tabelle. Nächste Aktualisierung: jährlich; die Ausgabe 2025 (PDF, Jahresmittelwerte 2025) wird übernommen, sobald sie maschinenlesbar vorliegt
Water report for Münster
Get new PFAS results for Münster, 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.