Ballenger Creek, MD · PFAS · forever chemicals
Is There PFAS in Ballenger Creek Tap Water?
Ballenger Creek, MD: PFPeA 3.3 ng/L detected (no federal or state limit) in 2024 testing. Every PFAS result and filter certifications per compound.
The measurements · EPA UCMR 5
1 of 29 PFAS detected
Each result is read against its own reference. None of the detected compounds has a federal limit. PFPeA has no federal or state limit and is shown for transparency, not graded.
- PFPeANo limitPerfluoropentanoic acid3.3ng/L
No federal or state limit: shown for transparency, not graded.
Detected, no limit · sampled 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30Evidence
All 29 compounds in this record
- PFOAMCLNot detected
- PFOSMCLNot detected
- PFHxSMCLNot detected
- PFNAMCLNot detected
- HFPO-DA (GenX)MCLNot detected
- PFPeA3.3 ng/L
- 11Cl-PF3OUdSNot detected
- 4:2 FTSNot detected
- 6:2 FTSNot detected
- 8:2 FTSNot detected
- 9Cl-PF3ONSNot detected
- ADONANot detected
- NEtFOSAANot detected
- NFDHANot detected
- NMeFOSAANot detected
- PFBANot detected
- PFBSNot detected
- PFDANot detected
- PFDoANot detected
- PFEESANot detected
- PFHpANot detected
- PFHpSNot detected
- PFHxANot detected
- PFMBANot detected
- PFMPANot detected
- PFPeSNot detected
- PFTANot detected
- PFTrDANot detected
- PFUnANot detected
MCL marks the 5 PFAS given a federal limit in EPA's 2024 rule. EPA has proposed rescinding three of those limits; they apply until a final rule.
Results as a table29 results with limit, status, sample date and source
| Contaminant | Result | Limit | Status | Sampled | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | 3.3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Detected, no limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| 9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS) | < 2 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals) | < 5 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) | < 6 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA) | < 20 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA) | < 4 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) | < 3 ng/L | 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) | < 3 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) | < 3 ng/L | 400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) | < 4 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) | < 4 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | < 4 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS) | < 4 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) | < 8 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) | < 7 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
| Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) | < 2 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030) |
How this compares
PFOS across 764 cities with a detected value
4 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
3,396 more were below the lab's 4 ng/L reporting limit and aren't plotted, and 34 have no result on record. 66 cities above 25 ng/L are grouped in the last bar. A position here is not a verdict on the water.
Where Ballenger Creek sitsNot on the stripBallenger Creek’s PFOS result was below the lab’s reporting limit.
What this record covers
- NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY's water system as a whole, as reported to EPA UCMR 5.
- 29 PFAS compounds, each with its own result.
- Samples taken 2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30.
What is unknown
- The water at your tap. Building plumbing isn't in this record.
- PFAS not listed in the 29 above were not reported in these records.
- Levels since the last sample have not been published.
Treatment capabilities that apply
Test first, then match a certified method.
A tap test can confirm levels at your home before you choose treatment.
Identified concerns
- PFPeA · detected, no federal or state limit
- Reverse osmosisOpen the method →
- Activated carbon (GAC)Open the method →
- Anion exchangeOpen the method →
No product in our catalogue has verified certification for these concerns yet.
Questions
Frequently asked
Follow this water
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Is there PFAS in Ballenger Creek tap water?
In EPA's UCMR 5 testing of NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (2025-01-16 to 2025-10-30): PFPeA 3.3 ng/L (no federal or state limit) and the other 28 PFAS tested not detected. "Not detected" means below the lab's reporting limit, not proven zero.
What are the federal PFAS limits?
EPA's 2024 drinking-water rule set maximum contaminant levels of 4.0 ng/L for PFOA and for PFOS, and 10 ng/L for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA (GenX). In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping the PFOA and PFOS limits, with the option of until 2031 to comply, and rescinding the other three. Until a final rule, all five limits apply. Results above them today are above the limits in force.
How do I remove PFAS from my tap water?
Reverse-osmosis systems and filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS reduction are the proven options at the tap. Check the certifier's listing (NSF, WQA or IAPMO) for the exact model, and replace cartridges on schedule.
- UCMR5 Analytical ResultsUCMR5 Analytical Results: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030)US EPA · 2026-01-15View source ↗
- State SDWIS Compliance RecordLead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: NEW DESIGN - FREDERICK COUNTY (MD0100030)US EPA SDWIS · 2026-07-09View source ↗