PFAS concern carried
Cottonwood, AZ · PFAS · forever chemicals

Is There PFAS in Cottonwood Tap Water?

Cottonwood, AZ: PFPeA 3.2 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 limit
    Perfluoropentanoic acid
    3.2ng/L

    No federal or state limit: shown for transparency, not graded.

    Detected, no limit · sampled 2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16Evidence
All 29 compounds in this record
  • PFOAMCL
    Not detected
  • PFOSMCL
    Not detected
  • PFHxSMCL
    Not detected
  • PFNAMCL
    Not detected
  • HFPO-DA (GenX)MCL
    Not detected
  • PFPeA
    3.2 ng/L
  • 11Cl-PF3OUdS
    Not detected
  • 4:2 FTS
    Not detected
  • 6:2 FTS
    Not detected
  • 8:2 FTS
    Not detected
  • 9Cl-PF3ONS
    Not detected
  • ADONA
    Not detected
  • NEtFOSAA
    Not detected
  • NFDHA
    Not detected
  • NMeFOSAA
    Not detected
  • PFBA
    Not detected
  • PFBS
    Not detected
  • PFDA
    Not detected
  • PFDoA
    Not detected
  • PFEESA
    Not detected
  • PFHpA
    Not detected
  • PFHpS
    Not detected
  • PFHxA
    Not detected
  • PFMBA
    Not detected
  • PFMPA
    Not detected
  • PFPeS
    Not detected
  • PFTA
    Not detected
  • PFTrDA
    Not detected
  • PFUnA
    Not 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
PFAS results for COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (PWSID AZ0413025), Cottonwood, AZ
ContaminantResultLimitStatusSampledSource
Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)3.2 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyDetected, no limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)< 5 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS)< 5 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)< 5 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)< 2 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals)< 5 ng/L10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)Not detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)< 5 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)< 6 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)< 20 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)< 4 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)< 3 ng/L2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limitNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)< 5 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)< 3 ng/L10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)Not detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)< 3 ng/L400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state)Not detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)< 4 ng/L10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)Not detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)< 4 ng/L4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)Not detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)< 4 ng/L4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)Not detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)< 4 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)< 8 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)< 7 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)< 2 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyNot detected above the reporting limit2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16UCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)
How this compares

PFOS across 764 cities with a detected value

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 Cottonwood sitsNot on the stripCottonwood’s PFOS result was below the lab’s reporting limit.
In Arizona
9of 54 city reports

have a regulated PFAS above the federal limit.

PFAS across Arizona →
What this record covers
  • COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1's water system as a whole, as reported to EPA UCMR 5.
  • 29 PFAS compounds, each with its own result.
  • Samples taken 2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16.
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.
How to test your tap water at home →
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
No product in our catalogue has verified certification for these concerns yet.
Questions

Frequently asked

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Is there PFAS in Cottonwood tap water?

In EPA's UCMR 5 testing of COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (2025-03-10 to 2025-09-16): PFPeA 3.2 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.

Sources
  • UCMR5 Analytical ResultsUCMR5 Analytical Results: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)US EPA · 2026-01-15View source ↗
  • State SDWIS Compliance RecordLead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)US EPA SDWIS · 2026-07-09View source ↗
  • State SDWIS Compliance RecordEPA SDWIS Violations & Enforcement: COTTONWOOD MUNICIPAL WATER CW1 (AZ0413025)US EPA SDWIS · 2026-07-09View source ↗