PFAS in Essay's tap water: under 4 ng/L, none of the four main PFAS detected
Last PFAS check: · Source: Hub'eau
PFAS in drinking water
No PFAS detected
The lab sees nothing below 4 ng/L, 8 times our benchmark of 0.5 ng/L. Water above our benchmark would pass this check unnoticed.
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.
More about this result
The US also limits PFOA and PFOS to 4 ng/L each, per substance.
The lab detects each of the four substances from 1 ng/L upward. None reached that limit, so their total is below 4 ng/L rather than zero.
checked on 22 April 2026
20 PFAS (see each substance)
| PFAS substance | Value |
|---|---|
| Acide perfluoroheptanoïque (PFHPA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorododécanoique (PFDoDA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro tridecane sulfonique (PFTrDS) | <0,0050 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-octanoïque (PFOA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro tridecanoique (PFTrDA) | <0,002 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorononane sulfonique (PFNS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorododécane sulfonique (PFDoDS) | <0,0020 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoropentanoïque (PFPEA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-nonanoïque (PFNA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorohexanoïque (PFHXA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorodecane sulfonique (PFDS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide sulfonique de perfluorobutane (PFBS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-decanoïque (PFDA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro undecane sulfonique (PFUnDS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoropentane sulfonique (PFPS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoroheptane sulfonique (PFHpS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro undecanoïque (PFUnA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorobutanoïque (PFBA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide sulfonique de perfluorooctane (PFOS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
Fails a current legal limit. The details are below.
Water report for Essay
Get new PFAS results for Essay, with a short explanation. At most one update a week, only when there's something new.
- EU legal limit
- none detected sum of 20 PFAS below the detection limit, limit 100 ng/L
- Last PFAS test
- 22 April 2026
- Water supplier
- EAUX DE NORMANDIE
In Essay, none of the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) was detected at the latest PFAS check on 22 April 2026. The total is below 4 ng/L, the sum of the detection limits and 8 times our 0.5 ng/L benchmark. Sum of 20 PFAS: <SEUIL µg/L, below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). 2 checks since 16 June 2025, sum of 20 PFAS always 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 Essay
2 PFAS checks since 16 June 2025, from the published measurements.
“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 |
|---|---|---|
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | < detection limit | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | < detection limit |
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 over at least one limit.
See all 18 test results
| What was tested | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 21 mg/L | ≤ 50 mg/L | within the limit |
| Nitrite | <0,010 mg/L | ≤ 0.5 mg/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 | 1.2 µg/L | ≤ 30 µg/L | within the limit |
| Fluoride | 0.084 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 | 7.2 unité pH | 6.5–9.5 pH | within the limit |
| Water hardness | 33.5 °f | no limit | for reference |
| Electrical conductivity | 664 µS/cm | 200–1,100 µS/cm | within the limit |
| Chloride | 15 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sulphate | 37 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sodium | 6.4 mg/L | ≤ 200 mg/L | within the limit |
| Iron | <1,0 µg/L | ≤ 200 µg/L | within the limit |
| Turbidity | <0,20 NFU | ≤ 2 NFU | within the limit |
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water in Essay safe to drink?
At the latest check, the water was over at least one limit. “Eau d'alimentation non conforme aux exigences de qualité fixées pour plusieurs sous-produits de dégradation de pesticides. Les concentrations mesurées dans le cadre du contrôle renforcé sont inférieures à la valeur sanitaire maximale de 11 µg/L pour la chloridazone desphényl et à la valeur sanitaire maximale de 110 µg/L pour la chloridazone méthyl desphényl définies par le ministère de la santé. De plus, la valeur indicative définie pour le chlorothalonil R471811 n’est pas satisfaite. L'eau peut être consommée sans restriction d'usage.”
How high are PFAS levels in Essay's drinking water?
The total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was last measured at –. The EU limit is 100 ng/L, so this water is at – of the limit. (below the EU limit)
Does the water in Essay also meet the strictest limits in Europe?
As far as this check can tell, yes. None of the four compounds was quantified, so their total is below 4 ng/L, the sum of the laboratory's detection limits, and under Sweden's legal limit of 4 ng/L in force since 2026.
Are PFAS levels rising in Essay'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 Essay?
The water hardness in Essay is 33.5 °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 12 September 2026.
Same water network
Same distribution network as Essay, so in principle the same water.
Nearby communes
The closest to Essay 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=61156
- License
- Licence Ouverte / Open Licence (Etalab)
- Retrieved
- 12 September 2026
- Supply networks
- ESSAY SIAEP
This site is a data project, not an official source. If in doubt, check with your water supplier or local authority.