PFAS in the tap water of Lens (France): 1 ng/L, 2x our 0.5 ng/L benchmark
Last PFAS check: · Source: Hub'eau
PFAS in drinking water
2× 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 Grenay, on the same distribution network as Lens (LENS). 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 82% of the cities we track
checked on 21 July 2026
20 PFAS (see each substance)
| PFAS substance | Value |
|---|---|
| Acide sulfonique de perfluorooctane (PFOS) | 0.001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro tridecanoique (PFTrDA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-decanoïque (PFDA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoroheptane sulfonique (PFHpS) | <0,002 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoroheptanoïque (PFHPA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorohexanoïque (PFHXA) | <0,002 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoropentanoïque (PFPEA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide sulfonique de perfluorobutane (PFBS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-nonanoïque (PFNA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro undecanoïque (PFUnA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-octanoïque (PFOA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro undecane sulfonique (PFUnDS) | <0,002 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorododécane sulfonique (PFDoDS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorodecane sulfonique (PFDS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorododécanoique (PFDoDA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoropentane sulfonique (PFPS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorononane sulfonique (PFNS) | <0,002 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorobutanoïque (PFBA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro tridecane sulfonique (PFTrDS) | <0,005 µg/L |
Above our health benchmark. Here are some filter options.
- EU legal limit
- 1 ng/L sum of 20 PFAS, below the 100 ng/L limit
- Last PFAS test
- 21 July 2026
- Water supplier
- VEOLIA ARTOIS DOUAISIS
In Lens, the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) add up to 1 ng/L (0.001 µg/L) at the latest PFAS check on 21 July 2026. That's 2 times our 0.5 ng/L health benchmark, but below Sweden's legal limit of 4 ng/L. Sum of 20 PFAS: 1 ng/L (0.001 µg/L), below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). Sampled in Grenay, on the same network. 9 checks since 12 March 2026: PFAS-4 up to 7 ng/L, sometimes below the detection limit, averaging at least 0.14 ng/L over 12 months (non-detects as 0). Source: Hub'eau, Qualité de l'eau potable (Ministère de la Santé / OFB / BRGM).
Details and sources
PFAS over time in Lens
11 PFAS checks since 18 September 2024, from the published measurements. Samples from 6 communes on the same network: it's the same water, so each one applies to Lens. Samples come from 2 distribution networks. The trend refers to the network “LENS”.
“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 ng/L | 1 ng/L | Grenay | LENS, LIEVIN | |
| < 1 ng/L | < 1 ng/L | Grenay | LENS, LIEVIN | |
| < 1 ng/L | < 1 ng/L | Grenay | LENS, LIEVIN | |
| < 1 ng/L | < 1 ng/L | Grenay | LENS, LIEVIN | |
| < 1 ng/L | 8 ng/L | Wingles | LENS | |
| 7 ng/L | 7 ng/L | Liévin | LIEVIN | |
| 2 ng/L | 2 ng/L | Angres | LIEVIN | |
| < 1 ng/L | 1 ng/L | Lens | LENS | |
| < 1 ng/L | < 1 ng/L | Grenay | LENS, LIEVIN | |
| 3 ng/L – < 5 ng/L · calculated | 3 ng/L | Hulluch | LENS | |
| 3 ng/L – < 5 ng/L · calculated | 6 ng/L | Wingles | LENS |
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.
Values to watch
These results are close to their legal limit, or over it.
| What was tested | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 36.8 mg/L | ≤ 50 mg/L | within the limit |
See all 21 test results
| What was tested | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 36.8 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 | 0.013 mg(Cu)/L | ≤ 2 mg(Cu)/L | within the limit |
| Nickel | <5 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 | 0.1 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 | 7.1 unité pH | 6.5–9 unité pH | within the limit |
| Water hardness | 27.82 °f | no limit | for reference |
| Electrical conductivity | 946 µS/cm | 200–1,100 µS/cm | within the limit |
| Chloride | 71 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sulphate | 85 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sodium | 17.2 mg/L | ≤ 200 mg/L | within the limit |
| Iron | <10 µg/L | ≤ 200 µg/L | within the limit |
| Turbidity | 0.19 NFU | ≤ 2 NFU | within the limit |
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water in Lens safe to drink?
Yes. At the check on 21 July 2026, the tap water in Lens 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 Lens's drinking water?
The total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was last measured at 1 ng/L. The EU limit is 100 ng/L, so this water is at 1 % of the limit. (below the EU limit)
Does the water in Lens 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 ng/L stays below.
Are PFAS levels rising in Lens's tap water?
Too few quantified checks to say (1 since 18 September 2024). pfasnearme adds each new publication weekly; a trend needs at least three quantified values. These history statistics use laboratory-published sums only.
How hard is the water in Lens?
The water hardness in Lens is 27.8 °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 Lens, so in principle the same water.
Nearby communes
The closest to Lens 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=62498
- License
- Licence Ouverte / Open Licence (Etalab)
- Retrieved
- 21 September 2026
- Supply networks
- LENS, LIEVIN
Water report for Lens
Get new PFAS results for Lens, 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.