Highlands Ranch, CO · PFAS · forever chemicals
Is There PFAS in Highlands Ranch Tap Water?
Highlands Ranch, CO: PFBS 5 ng/L detected, below the 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory, in 2024 testing. Every PFAS result and filter certifications per compound.
The measurements · EPA UCMR 5
4 of 29 PFAS detected
Each result is read against its own reference. None of the detected compounds has a federal limit. PFBA and PFPeA have no federal or state limit and are shown for transparency, not graded.
- PFBSEPA health advisoryPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid5ng/LDetected, below its EPA health advisory · sampled 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07Evidence
- PFHxAState MCL · MichiganPerfluorohexanoic acid5.1ng/LDetected, below its state limit · sampled 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07Evidence
- PFBANo limitPerfluorobutanoic acid8.7ng/L
No federal or state limit: shown for transparency, not graded.
Detected, no limit · sampled 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07Evidence - PFPeANo limitPerfluoropentanoic acid5.7ng/L
No federal or state limit: shown for transparency, not graded.
Detected, no limit · sampled 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07Evidence
All 29 compounds in this record
- PFOAMCLNot detected
- PFOSMCLNot detected
- PFHxSMCLNot detected
- PFNAMCLNot detected
- HFPO-DA (GenX)MCLNot detected
- PFBS5 ng/L
- PFHxA5.1 ng/L
- PFBA8.7 ng/L
- PFPeA5.7 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
- PFDANot detected
- PFDoANot detected
- PFEESANot detected
- PFHpANot detected
- PFHpSNot 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) | 5 ng/L | 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit | Within the referenced health-based guidance value | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) | 5.1 ng/L | 400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state) | Within a historical reference; current applicability unverified | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) | 8.7 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Detected, no limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | 5.7 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Detected, no limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| 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 | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| 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 | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| 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 | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| 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 | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| 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 | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals) | < 5 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) | < 6 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA) | < 20 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA) | < 4 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) | < 3 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) | < 4 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) | < 4 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | < 4 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS) | < 4 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) | < 8 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) | < 7 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
| Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) | < 2 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015) |
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 Highlands Ranch sitsNot on the stripHighlands Ranch’s PFOS result was below the lab’s reporting limit.
What this record covers
- HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD's water system as a whole, as reported to EPA UCMR 5.
- 29 PFAS compounds, each with its own result.
- Samples taken 2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07.
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
- PFBS · detected below the limit
- PFHxA · detected below the limit
- PFBA · detected, no federal or state limit
- 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 Highlands Ranch tap water?
In EPA's UCMR 5 testing of HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (2024-01-29 to 2024-10-07): PFBA 8.7 ng/L (no federal or state limit), PFBS 5 ng/L (EPA health advisory 2,000), PFHxA 5.1 ng/L (state limit 400,000), PFPeA 5.7 ng/L (no federal or state limit) and the other 25 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: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015)US EPA · 2026-01-15View source ↗
- State SDWIS Compliance RecordLead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: HIGHLANDS RANCH WSD (CO0118015)US EPA SDWIS · 2026-07-09View source ↗