PFAS in Rotterdam's tap water: 2 ng/L, 4x our 0.5 ng/L benchmark
Last PFAS check: · Source: Evides Waterbedrijf
PFAS in drinking water
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.
The PFAS figures come from "Productielocatie Berenplaat", the one with the highest latest published PFAS-4 value among the 2 production locations or delivery series serving Rotterdam. The others are in the table of all values; the tap often carries a blend of several locations.
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).
checked on 31 August 2026
22 PFAS (see each substance)
| PFAS substance | Value |
|---|---|
| PFBA | 0.003 µg/L |
| PFHxA | 0.003 µg/L |
| PFPeA | 0.003 µg/L |
| PFBS | 0.0018 µg/L |
| PFOA (L+V) | 0.0018 µg/L |
| PFHpA | 0.0014 µg/L |
| PFHxS (L+V) | 0.0001 µg/L |
| DONA | not quantified |
| HFPO-DA | not quantified |
| PFDA | not quantified |
| PFDoDA | not quantified |
| PFDoDS | not quantified |
| PFDS | not quantified |
| PFHpS | not quantified |
| PFNA | not quantified |
| PFNS | not quantified |
| PFOS (L+V) | not quantified |
| PFPeS | not quantified |
| PFTrDA | not quantified |
| PFTrDS | not quantified |
| PFUnDA | not quantified |
| PFUnDS | not quantified |
Above our health benchmark. Here are some filter options.
- EU legal limit
- 15.4 ng/L sum of 20 PFAS, below the 100 ng/L limit
- Last PFAS test
- 31 August 2026
- Water supplier
- Evides Waterbedrijf
In Rotterdam, the 4 most closely watched PFAS (PFAS-4) add up to 2 ng/L (0.002 µg/L) at the latest PFAS check on 31 August 2026. That's 4 times our 0.5 ng/L health benchmark, but below Sweden's legal limit of 4 ng/L. Sum of 20 PFAS: 15.4 ng/L (0.0154 µg/L), below the EU legal limit (100 ng/L). 11 checks since 30 September 2025: PFAS-4 from 1.4 ng/L to 2.6 ng/L, averaging 1.93 ng/L over 12 months. No clear trend. Source: Evides Waterbedrijf, rapport PFAS per productielocatie.
For comparison, RIVM advises 4.4 ng/L PFOA equivalents. That's a weighted sum, a different measure from our sum of four PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS) with its 0.5 ng/L benchmark.
Details and sources
PFAS over time in Rotterdam
11 PFAS checks since 30 September 2025, values as published.
| Date | PFAS-4 | Sum of 20 PFAS |
|---|---|---|
| 2 ng/L | 15.4 ng/L | |
| 1.8 ng/L | 13.9 ng/L | |
| 1.8 ng/L | 14.7 ng/L | |
| 1.7 ng/L | 13.3 ng/L | |
| 2.6 ng/L | 15.1 ng/L | |
| 2.5 ng/L | 16.6 ng/L | |
| 2.2 ng/L | 13 ng/L | |
| 1.9 ng/L | 14.1 ng/L | |
| 1.4 ng/L | 12.6 ng/L | |
| 1.5 ng/L | 12.8 ng/L | |
| 1.8 ng/L | 13.7 ng/L |
“<” means not detected, the figure being the detection limit. “–” means not published. Labs have only reported the PFAS-4 sum (SANDRE code 9268) since autumn 2025. How to read a PFAS result
What the latest check found
The authorities have not published an overall verdict for this water.
See all 41 test results
| What was tested | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) | 0.0017 µg/L | ≤ 0.004 µg/L | within the limit |
| Sum of 20 PFAS | 0.0148 µg/L | ≤ 0.1 µg/L | within the limit |
| Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) | 1.483 µg/L | no limit | for reference |
| Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) | 1.517 µg/L | no limit | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0001 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0001 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0014 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0013 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0001 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0001 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0001 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0002 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0017 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0017 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0001 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0001 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0001 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0001 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0001 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0001 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.004 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| PFAS sum as PFOA equivalents (PEQ) | 0.0034 µg/L | ≤ 0.0044 µg/L | for reference |
| Nitrate | 9.8 mg/L | ≤ 50 mg/L | within the limit |
| Nitrite | 0 mg/L | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | within the limit |
| Lead | 0 µg/L | ≤ 10 µg/L | within the limit |
| Copper | 0 mg/L | ≤ 2 mg/L | within the limit |
| Nickel | 2.7 µg/L | ≤ 20 µg/L | within the limit |
| Arsenic | 0 µg/L | ≤ 10 µg/L | within the limit |
| Cadmium | 0 µg/L | ≤ 5 µg/L | within the limit |
| Chromium | 0 µg/L | ≤ 50 µg/L | within the limit |
| Fluoride | 0.15 mg/L | ≤ 1.5 mg/L | within the limit |
| Escherichia coli | 0 kve/100 ml | ≤ 0 kve/100 ml | within the limit |
| Enterococci | 0 kve/100 ml | ≤ 0 kve/100 ml | within the limit |
| Coliform bacteria | 0 kve/100 ml | ≤ 0 kve/100 ml | within the limit |
| pH | 7.99 pH | 6.5–9.5 pH | within the limit |
| Electrical conductivity | 430 µS/cm | ≤ 2,500 µS/cm | within the limit |
| Chloride | 50 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sulphate | 46 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within the limit |
| Sodium | 35 mg/L | ≤ 200 mg/L | within the limit |
| Iron | 4.2 µg/L | ≤ 200 µg/L | within the limit |
| Turbidity | 0.05 FTE | no limit | for reference |
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water in Rotterdam safe to drink?
All the values shown here (31 August 2026) are within the legal limits, but the authorities have not published an overall verdict for this water.
How high are PFAS levels in Rotterdam's drinking water?
The total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was last measured at 15.4 ng/L. The EU limit is 100 ng/L, so this water is at 15 % of the limit. (below the EU limit)
Does the water in Rotterdam 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 2 ng/L stays below.
Are PFAS levels rising in Rotterdam's tap water?
No clear trend. Since 30 September 2025, 11 checks have been published; on the main network the PFAS-4 sum ranged between 1.4 ng/L and 2.6 ng/L (11 quantified values), at times below the detection limit. pfasnearme only reports a trend from a change of at least 25 % and 1 ng/L.
Which PFAS limits apply in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands applies the EU limit of 100 ng/L for the sum of 20 PFAS in the Drinkwaterbesluit. The RIVM advises a health-based value of 4.4 ng PEQ/L (PFOA equivalents) for all PFAS together; that is an advisory, not a limit. There is no national PFAS-4 limit; the health reference is EFSA's 4 ng/L. This site's 0.5 ng/L benchmark is stricter than all three.
How hard is the water in Rotterdam?
No hardness value is available for Rotterdam in this source.
Where does this data come from?
All values come from official publications: Evides Waterbedrijf, rapport PFAS per productielocatie. Retrieved on 28 September 2026.
Same water network
Same distribution network as Rotterdam, so in principle the same water.
Nearby cities
The closest to Rotterdam on this site.
Data source
- Evides Waterbedrijf, rapport PFAS per productielocatie
- https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/f9324897-6af9-0184-f310-2f81b1cadcfb/086721c9-50d9-47bc-b78c-ed810a81c859/Perfluorverbindingen%20Berenplaat%20tbv%20publicatie.pdf
- License
- Bron: Evides Waterbedrijf, rapport PFAS productielocatie Berenplaat, periode vanaf 2025-09-02 (geen open licentie, overgenomen met bronvermelding); Bron: Evides Waterbedrijf, rapport PFAS productielocatie Kralingen, periode vanaf 2025-09-02 (geen open licentie, overgenomen met bronvermelding); Bron: RIVM, INSPIRE drinkwaterkwaliteit, jaar 2025
- Retrieved
- 28 September 2026
- Supply networks
- Productielocatie Berenplaat, Productielocatie Kralingen
Evides Waterbedrijf: PFAS report per production location, monthly means of the EFSA-4 sum, the sum of 20 PFAS (EDR20 + NL2) and the PEQ sum (one PDF per location; Midden-Zeeland as delivered blended water) (monthly). Latest value dated 31 August 2026. Evides updates the reports monthly; the next monthly column appears within a few weeks of the end of the month.
Limits in the Netherlands. The Netherlands applies the EU limit of 100 ng/L for the sum of 20 PFAS in the Drinkwaterbesluit. The RIVM advises a health-based value of 4.4 ng PEQ/L (PFOA equivalents) for all PFAS together; that is an advisory, not a limit. There is no national PFAS-4 limit; the health reference is EFSA's 4 ng/L. This site's 0.5 ng/L benchmark is stricter than all three.
Maandgemiddelden per productielocatie uit de PFAS-rapporten van Evides (PDF, rapportperiode vanaf 2025-09-02), ng/l omgerekend naar µg/L. De PFAS-4-waarde is Evides' "Som EFSA-4" (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS) van de laatste maand, de som van 20 is "Som EDR20 + NL2" (de 20 stoffen van de Europese drinkwaterrichtlijn plus DONA en HFPO-DA). De afzonderlijke stoffen zijn gemiddelden over de rapportperiode; 0,0 betekent niet aangetoond. Voor Rotterdam zijn 2 locaties bekend (Productielocatie Berenplaat, Productielocatie Kralingen). De PFAS-waarde van de pagina komt van Productielocatie Berenplaat, de locatie met de hoogste PFAS-4-waarde; de overige locaties staan in de tabel. Overige parameters: RIVM, INSPIRE drinkwaterkwaliteit, jaargemiddelden 2025 per pompstation; een 0 betekent niet aangetoond boven de detectiegrens. Volgende update: Evides werkt de rapporten maandelijks bij; de volgende maandkolom verschijnt binnen enkele weken na het einde van de maand.
Water report for Rotterdam
Get new PFAS results for Rotterdam, 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.