PFAS in Saint-Étienne's tap water: under 4 ng/L, none of the four main PFAS detected
Last PFAS check: · Source: Hub'eau
PFAS in drinking water
None of the 4 most harmful 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 15 June 2026
20 PFAS (see each substance)
| PFAS substance | Value |
|---|---|
| Acide perfluorobutanoïque (PFBA) | 0.011 µg/L |
| Acide sulfonique de perfluorobutane (PFBS) | 0.002 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoropentanoïque (PFPEA) | 0.001 µg/L |
| Acide sulfonique de perfluorooctane (PFOS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoroheptane sulfonique (PFHpS) | <0,002 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-octanoïque (PFOA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorododécane sulfonique (PFDoDS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro undecane sulfonique (PFUnDS) | <0,002 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoropentane sulfonique (PFPS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro undecanoïque (PFUnA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoroheptanoïque (PFHPA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro tridecanoique (PFTrDA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorododécanoique (PFDoDA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-nonanoïque (PFNA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorononane sulfonique (PFNS) | <0,002 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorohexanoïque (PFHXA) | <0,002 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro tridecane sulfonique (PFTrDS) | <0,005 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorodecane sulfonique (PFDS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-decanoïque (PFDA) | <0,001 µg/L |
None found. The lab sees nothing below 4 ng/L, so our 0.5 ng/L benchmark cannot be checked.
Water report for Saint-Étienne
Get new PFAS results for Saint-Étienne, with a short explanation. At most one update a week, only when there's something new.
- EU legal limit
- 14 ng/L sum of 20 PFAS, below the 100 ng/L limit
- Last PFAS test
- 15 June 2026
- Water supplier
- SAUR
In Saint-Étienne, none of the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) was detected at the latest PFAS check on 15 June 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: 14 ng/L (0.014 µg/L), below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). 9 checks since 11 September 2025: PFAS-4 up to 1 ng/L, sometimes below the detection limit, averaging at least 0.38 ng/L over 12 months (non-detects as 0). No clear trend. Source: Hub'eau, Qualité de l'eau potable (Ministère de la Santé / OFB / BRGM).
Details and sources
PFAS over time in Saint-Étienne
19 PFAS checks since 20 March 2025, from the published measurements. Samples from 4 communes on the same network: it's the same water, so each one applies to Saint-Étienne. Samples come from 6 distribution networks. The trend refers to the network “SEM FURAN SOLAURE”.
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 4 ng/L | 14 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE | |
| < 4 ng/L | 1 ng/L | Saint-Priest-en-Jarez | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE | |
| < 4 ng/L | < 29 ng/L | Sorbiers | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE | |
| < 4 ng/L | < 29 ng/L | Tarentaise | ROCHETAILLE BARBANCHE VSE | |
| < 4 ng/L | < 29 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE | |
| < 4 ng/L | < 29 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE | |
| 1 ng/L | 2 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE | |
| 1 ng/L | 2 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE | |
| 1 ng/L | 1 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE | |
| 1 ng/L – < 4 ng/L · calculated | 2 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | < 29 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | 1 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE |
Show the 7 earlier checks (back to 20 March 2025)
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | 3 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | < 100 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | ROCHETAILLEE FONTMORAT VSE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | 1 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | ROCHETAILLEE ESSERTINES VSE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | 3 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | ROCHETAILLEE SALVARIS VSE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | < 100 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | < 100 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SAINT ETIENNE ROCHETAILLEE | |
| < 4 ng/L · calculated | < 100 ng/L | Saint-Étienne | SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SEM FURAN SOLAURE |
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 | 2.7 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 | 0.023 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 | 0.06 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 | 7.8 unité pH | 6.5–9 unité pH | within the limit |
| Water hardness | 8.3 °f | no limit | for reference |
| Electrical conductivity | 241 µS/cm | 200–1,100 µS/cm | within the limit |
| Chloride | 22.8 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sulphate | 4.7 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sodium | 7.7 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 Saint-Étienne safe to drink?
Yes. At the check on 30 July 2026, the tap water in Saint-Étienne 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 Saint-Étienne's drinking water?
The total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was last measured at 14 ng/L. The EU limit is 100 ng/L, so this water is at 14 % of the limit. (below the EU limit)
Does the water in Saint-Étienne 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 Saint-Étienne's tap water?
No clear trend. Since 20 March 2025, 9 checks have been published; on the main network the PFAS-4 sum ranged between 1 ng/L and 1 ng/L (3 quantified values), at times below the detection limit. pfasnearme only reports a trend from a change of at least 25 % and 1 ng/L. These history statistics use laboratory-published sums only.
How hard is the water in Saint-Étienne?
The water hardness in Saint-Étienne is 8.3 °f (soft). 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 Saint-Étienne, so in principle the same water.
Nearby communes
The closest to Saint-Étienne 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=42218
- License
- Licence Ouverte / Open Licence (Etalab)
- Retrieved
- 21 September 2026
- Supply networks
- SEM FURAN SOLAURE, SAINT ETIENNE ROCHETAILLEE, ROCHETAILLEE FONTMORAT VSE, ROCHETAILLEE ESSERTINES VSE, ROCHETAILLEE SALVARIS VSE, ROCHETAILLE BARBANCHE VSE
This site is a data project, not an official source. If in doubt, check with your water supplier or local authority.