PFAS in Douai's tap water: 5 ng/L, 10x our 0.5 ng/L benchmark
Last PFAS check: · Source: Hub'eau
PFAS in drinking water
10× 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.
checked on 22 April 2026
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 92% of the cities we track
checked on 18 March 2026
4 PFAS (see each substance)
| PFAS substance | Value |
|---|---|
| Acide sulfonique de perfluorooctane (PFOS) | 0.002 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-octanoïque (PFOA) | 0.002 µg/L |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) | 0.001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-nonanoïque (PFNA) | <0,001 µg/L |
Above our health benchmark. Here are some filter options.
- EU legal limit
- 8 ng/L sum of 20 PFAS, below the 100 ng/L limit
- Last PFAS test
- 22 April 2026
- Water supplier
- DOUAISIS ENVIRONNEMENT
In Douai, the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) add up to 5 ng/L (0.005 µg/L) at the latest available PFAS-4 check on 22 April 2026. That's 10 times our 0.5 ng/L health benchmark, and above Sweden's legal limit of 4 ng/L. Sum of 20 PFAS on 18 March 2026: 8 ng/L (0.008 µg/L), below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). 3 checks since 18 March 2026: PFAS-4 from 5 ng/L to 8 ng/L, averaging 7 ng/L over 12 months. Falling on the main network. Source: Hub'eau, Qualité de l'eau potable (Ministère de la Santé / OFB / BRGM).
Details and sources
PFAS over time in Douai
4 PFAS checks since 10 October 2024, from the published measurements. Samples from 2 communes on the same network: it's the same water, so each one applies to Douai.
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ng/L | – | Douai | |
| 8 ng/L | – | Douai | |
| 8 ng/L | 8 ng/L | Douai | |
| 5 ng/L – < 6 ng/L · calculated | 6 ng/L | Férin |
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 | 15.2 mg/L | ≤ 50 mg/L | within the limit |
| Nitrite | <0,01 mg/L | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | within the limit |
| Lead | <2 µg/L | ≤ 10 µg/L | within the limit |
| Copper | <0,010 mg(Cu)/L | ≤ 2 mg(Cu)/L | within the limit |
| Nickel | 6 µg/L | ≤ 20 µg/L | within the limit |
| Arsenic | <2 µg/L | ≤ 10 µg/L | within the limit |
| Cadmium | <1 µg/L | ≤ 5 µg/L | within the limit |
| Chromium | <5 µg/L | ≤ 50 µg/L | within the limit |
| Uranium | <10 µg/L | ≤ 30 µg/L | within the limit |
| Fluoride | 0.27 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 | 7.3 unité pH | 6.5–9 unité pH | within the limit |
| Water hardness | 37.59 °f | no limit | for reference |
| Electrical conductivity | 849 µS/cm | 200–1,100 µS/cm | within the limit |
| Chloride | 48.8 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sulphate | 60 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sodium | 68.3 mg/L | ≤ 200 mg/L | within the limit |
| Iron | <10 µg/L | ≤ 200 µg/L | within the limit |
| Turbidity | <0,1 NFU | ≤ 2 NFU | within the limit |
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water in Douai safe to drink?
Yes. At the check on 20 July 2026, the tap water in Douai 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 Douai's drinking water?
The total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was last measured at 8 ng/L. The EU limit is 100 ng/L, so this water is at 8 % of the limit. (below the EU limit)
Does the water in Douai also meet the strictest limits in Europe?
No. The four most harmful PFAS add up to 5 ng/L. That is 1.25 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).
Are PFAS levels rising in Douai's tap water?
No, they are falling. On the main network, the PFAS-4 sum went from 8 ng/L (18 March 2026) to 5 ng/L (22 April 2026) across 3 quantified checks. These history statistics use laboratory-published sums only.
How hard is the water in Douai?
The water hardness in Douai is 37.6 °f (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: 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 Douai, so in principle the same water.
Nearby communes
The closest to Douai 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=59178
- License
- Licence Ouverte / Open Licence (Etalab)
- Retrieved
- 21 September 2026
- Supply networks
- DOUAI
Water report for Douai
Get new PFAS results for Douai, 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.