PFAS in Alençon's tap water: 1.2 ng/L, 2.4x our 0.5 ng/L benchmark
Last PFAS check: · Source: Hub'eau
PFAS in drinking water
2.4× 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.
Sample taken in Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei, on the same distribution network as Alençon (ALENCON ECOUVES). The health authority samples one tap per network; a network carries the same treated water everywhere.
More about this result
The US also limits PFOA and PFOS to 4 ng/L each, per substance.
Substances below the detection limit count as 0, so the real total may be higher.
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 March 2026
20 PFAS (see each substance)
| PFAS substance | Value |
|---|---|
| Acide perfluorobutanoïque (PFBA) | 0.0021 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoropentanoïque (PFPEA) | 0.0013 µg/L |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) | 0.0012 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro tridecanoique (PFTrDA) | <0,0020 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorohexanoïque (PFHXA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorononane sulfonique (PFNS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide sulfonique de perfluorooctane (PFOS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro undecane sulfonique (PFUnDS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-octanoïque (PFOA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorododécane sulfonique (PFDoDS) | <0,002 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoroheptanoïque (PFHPA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoroheptane sulfonique (PFHpS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorododécanoique (PFDoDA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoropentane sulfonique (PFPS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro tridecane sulfonique (PFTrDS) | <0,005 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro undecanoïque (PFUnA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide sulfonique de perfluorobutane (PFBS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorodecane sulfonique (PFDS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-decanoïque (PFDA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-nonanoïque (PFNA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
Above our health benchmark. Here are some filter options.
- EU legal limit
- 4.6 ng/L sum of 20 PFAS, below the 100 ng/L limit
- Last PFAS test
- 31 March 2026
- Water supplier
- EAUX DE NORMANDIE
In Alençon, the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) add up to 1.2 ng/L (0.0012 µg/L) at the latest PFAS check on 31 March 2026. That's 2.4 times our 0.5 ng/L health benchmark, but below Sweden's legal limit of 4 ng/L. Sum of 20 PFAS: 4.6 ng/L (0.0046 µg/L), below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). Sampled in Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei, on the same network. 14 checks since 14 January 2025: sum of 20 PFAS up to 7.8 ng/L, sometimes below the detection limit. Source: Hub'eau, Qualité de l'eau potable (Ministère de la Santé / OFB / BRGM).
Details and sources
PFAS over time in Alençon
14 PFAS checks since 14 January 2025, from the published measurements. Samples from 3 communes on the same network: it's the same water, so each one applies to Alençon. Samples come from 5 distribution networks. The trend refers to the network “ALENCON ECOUVES”.
“Calculated”: PFAS-4 worked out from the four substances in the same sample. The chart, averages and trends use lab-published sums only.
| Date | PFAS-4 | Sum of 20 PFAS | Sampled at | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 ng/L – < 4.2 ng/L · calculated | 4.6 ng/L | Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei | ALENCON ECOUVES | |
| 2.4 ng/L – < 4.4 ng/L · calculated | 7.8 ng/L | Héloup | ALENCON PERSEIGNE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | 3.8 ng/L | Alençon | ALENCON VILLE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | 1.1 ng/L | Alençon | ALENCON ECOUVES | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | 2.3 ng/L | Alençon | ALENCON PERSEIGNE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | 2.3 ng/L | Alençon | 072000837, 072003580 | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | < detection limit | Alençon | ALENCON ECOUVES | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | 1.2 ng/L | Alençon | ALENCON VILLE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | < detection limit | Alençon | ALENCON PERSEIGNE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | < detection limit | Alençon | 072000837, 072003580 | |
| < 6 ng/L · calculated | < detection limit | Alençon | ALENCON ECOUVES | |
| < 6 ng/L · calculated | 5.9 ng/L | Alençon | ALENCON PERSEIGNE |
Show the 2 earlier checks (back to 14 January 2025)
| < 6 ng/L · calculated | 5.9 ng/L | Alençon | 072000837, 072003580 | |
| < 6 ng/L · calculated | 5.9 ng/L | Alençon | ALENCON VILLE |
Calculated values: “<” is an upper bound from published thresholds, “≥” a lower bound, “–” means no published sum or complete measurement. How to read a PFAS result
What the latest check found
At the latest check, the water was within every limit tested.
See all 21 test results
| What was tested | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 8.8 mg/L | ≤ 50 mg/L | within the limit |
| Nitrite | <0,010 mg/L | ≤ 0.1 mg/L | within the limit |
| Lead | <1 µg/L | ≤ 10 µg/L | within the limit |
| Copper | 0.09 mg/L | ≤ 2 mg/L | within the limit |
| Nickel | 2 µg/L | ≤ 20 µg/L | within the limit |
| Arsenic | <0,25 µg/L | ≤ 10 µg/L | within the limit |
| Cadmium | <0,025 µg/L | ≤ 5 µg/L | within the limit |
| Chromium | <1,0 µg/L | ≤ 50 µg/L | within the limit |
| Uranium | 0.78 µg/L | ≤ 30 µg/L | within the limit |
| Fluoride | 0.417 mg/L | ≤ 1.5 mg/L | within the limit |
| Escherichia coli | <1 n/(100mL) | ≤ 0 mL) | within the limit |
| Enterococci | <1 n/(100mL) | ≤ 0 mL) | within the limit |
| Coliform bacteria | <1 n/(100mL) | ≤ 0 mL) | within the limit |
| pH | 7.7 unité pH | 6.5–9 unité pH | within the limit |
| Water hardness | 22.5 °f | no limit | for reference |
| Electrical conductivity | 644 µS/cm | 200–1,100 µS/cm | within the limit |
| Chloride | 55 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sulphate | 41 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sodium | 57 mg/L | ≤ 200 mg/L | within the limit |
| Iron | 4.7 µg/L | ≤ 200 µg/L | within the limit |
| Turbidity | <0,20 NFU | ≤ 1 NFU | within the limit |
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water in Alençon safe to drink?
Yes. At the check on 23 July 2026, the tap water in Alençon was within every limit tested. “Eau d'alimentation conforme aux exigences de qualité en vigueur pour l'ensemble des paramètres mesurés.”
How high are PFAS levels in Alençon's drinking water?
The total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was last measured at 4.6 ng/L. The EU limit is 100 ng/L, so this water is at 5 % of the limit. (below the EU limit)
Does the water in Alençon also meet the strictest limits in Europe?
Yes. Even against Europe's strictest legal limit, Sweden's 4 ng/L in force since 2026, the measured value of 1.2 ng/L stays below.
Are PFAS levels rising in Alençon's tap water?
Calculated PFAS-4 values are listed in the table. The chart uses laboratory-published sum-of-20 results; there are too few laboratory-published PFAS-4 sums for the existing trend calculation.
How hard is the water in Alençon?
The water hardness in Alençon is 22.5 °f (medium). This mainly matters for household appliances and detergent dosing, not for health.
Where does this data come from?
All values come from official publications: Hub'eau, Qualité de l'eau potable (Ministère de la Santé / OFB / BRGM). Retrieved on 21 September 2026.
Same water network
Same distribution network as Alençon, so in principle the same water.
Nearby communes
The closest to Alençon on this site.
Data source
- Hub'eau, Qualité de l'eau potable (Ministère de la Santé / OFB / BRGM)
- https://hubeau.eaufrance.fr/api/v1/qualite_eau_potable/resultats_dis?code_commune=61001
- License
- Licence Ouverte / Open Licence (Etalab)
- Retrieved
- 21 September 2026
- Supply networks
- ALENCON VILLE, ALENCON ECOUVES, ALENCON PERSEIGNE
Water report for Alençon
Get new PFAS results for Alençon, 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.