Scale of the Problem
700+
Military Sites Confirmed
2,800+
Locations in EWG Database
200M+
Americans with PFAS in Tap Water
50
States with Confirmed Contamination
Live Maps
Find Contamination Near You
These are the most reliable, regularly updated maps of PFAS contamination in the United States. Each covers different source types. Use more than one to get the full picture for your area.
Contamination Sources
The Three Main Sources
Military Bases
The U.S. military used PFAS-based aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) for jet fuel fire suppression from the 1960s onward. Decades of training exercises deposited PFAS directly into soil and groundwater at more than 700 confirmed installations. Contamination migrates through groundwater into surrounding communities. People living near military bases face elevated risk whether they use a public system or a private well.
For the full AFFF history, base-by-base detail, veterans guidance, and cleanup status, see the PFAS in the Military page
Industrial Facilities
Companies that manufactured PFAS or used them in industrial processes discharged PFAS into wastewater, released them into the air, and contaminated surrounding soil and groundwater. The most documented cases involve DuPont’s Washington Works plant in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and 3M’s manufacturing operations in Cottage Grove, Minnesota and Decatur, Alabama. Industrial PFAS contamination extends to electroplating facilities, semiconductor manufacturers, textile mills, and chrome plating operations across the country.
Agricultural land where PFAS-containing biosolids were applied as fertilizer represents a growing contamination category. Biosolids from municipal wastewater treatment concentrate PFAS, then spread it across farmland where it migrates into groundwater.
Public Water Systems
Many public water systems draw from groundwater or surface water contaminated by military or industrial PFAS sources upstream. The EPA’s UCMR5 monitoring program found detectable PFAS in thousands of public water systems nationwide. Water utilities serving communities near military bases and industrial sites showed the highest levels, but PFAS have been detected in every state.
State-by-State Reference
Significant Contamination Sites
The following covers documented, high-profile sites with confirmed contamination, documented community impacts, or active regulatory proceedings as of early 2026. It is not exhaustive. The EWG map lists more than 2,800 locations.
STATE
TYPE
SITE AND SUMMARY
Alabama
Industrial
3M’s Decatur manufacturing plant discharged PFAS into the Tennessee River for decades. Downstream communities detected PFAS in drinking water. 3M agreed to fund remediation as part of broader settlement agreements.
Alaska
Military
Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks has confirmed PFAS contamination in groundwater from AFFF use. Reliance on local groundwater makes this a significant concern for surrounding communities.
Arizona
Military
Luke Air Force Base west of Phoenix contaminated groundwater affecting multiple municipal water systems serving western suburban communities, requiring treatment upgrades at significant cost.
California
Military
Travis Air Force Base, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake are among California’s most documented military PFAS sites, with multiple community water systems affected.
Colorado
Military
Peterson Space Force Base near Colorado Springs contaminated groundwater in surrounding El Paso County. The state provided bottled water and filter assistance to affected residents.
Florida
Military
Naval Air Station Pensacola and Tyndall Air Force Base are among Florida’s most documented military PFAS sites, with contamination found in community drinking water wells.
Georgia
Industrial
The Dalton carpet manufacturing corridor is one of the largest industrial PFAS contamination zones in the Southeast. Decades of stain-resistant coating applications discharged PFAS into local waterways affecting downstream systems in Tennessee and Georgia.
Illinois
Water System
Several northern Illinois communities including Rockford detected PFAS in municipal water supplies above EPA thresholds. The Illinois EPA has been active in requiring testing and treatment upgrades.
Michigan
Military /
Industrial
Wurtsmith Air Force Base contaminated Oscoda Township’s water supply. Wolverine World Wide’s tannery in Rockford discharged 3M Scotchgard waste affecting hundreds of private wells. Michigan has set some of the strictest state MCLs for PFAS in response.
Minnesota
Industrial
3M’s Twin Cities manufacturing facilities discharged PFAS for decades, contaminating groundwater across Washington County and affecting municipal wells in Oakdale, Woodbury, and Lake Elmo. 3M settled with Minnesota for $850 million in 2018.
New Hampshire
Military
Pease Air National Guard Base in Portsmouth is one of the most studied military PFAS sites in the U.S. Contamination drove New Hampshire to enact early state PFAS drinking water standards.
New Jersey
Industrial /
Water
DuPont’s Chambers Works facility discharged PFAS into the Delaware River. Multiple water utilities in southern New Jersey detected PFAS. New Jersey has set some of the most comprehensive state PFAS MCLs in the country.
New York
Industrial
Hoosick Falls became one of the first communities to receive national attention for industrial PFAS contamination when Saint-Gobain was identified as the source of PFOA in the municipal water supply in 2015.
North Carolina
Industrial /
Military
The Chemours Fayetteville Works plant discharged GenX into the Cape Fear River, contaminating drinking water for Wilmington and downstream communities. Camp Lejeune is separately documented as one of the largest military contamination sites in the country.
Ohio
Industrial
DuPont’s Washington Works plant across the Ohio River contaminated water supplies on the Ohio side. The Little Hocking Water Association became central to early PFOA litigation.
Pennsylvania
Military /
Water
Willow Grove Naval Air Station and Horsham Air Guard Station contaminated groundwater affecting multiple municipal water systems in Montgomery County north of Philadelphia.
Tennessee
Industrial
PFAS from Georgia’s carpet manufacturing corridor migrated into the Tennessee River. Chattanooga and downstream communities detected PFAS in river-sourced drinking water.
Vermont
Industrial
Saint-Gobain and Chemfab facilities in North Bennington contaminated private wells serving hundreds of residents. Vermont was among the first states to conduct comprehensive groundwater testing and provide alternate water sources.
Washington
Military
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island contaminated groundwater affecting private wells in Oak Harbor. Fairchild and McChord Air Force Bases have also generated documented contamination.
West Virginia
Industrial
DuPont’s Washington Works plant in Parkersburg is the most documented single industrial PFAS case in U.S. history. The resulting litigation produced the first major PFAS health studies and a $671 million settlement in 2017.
Assess Your Risk
How to Check Your Own Area
01
Check the EWG Map
Look for sites within 5 miles of your home. Pay attention to military bases, airports, industrial facilities, and landfills. Contamination migrates through groundwater, often downgradient from the source.
ewg.org/interactive-maps
02
Check Your Tap Water
Search the EWG Tap Water Database with your zip code. If you are on a public system, this shows what PFAS have been detected and at what levels. ewg.org/tapwater
03
Test Your Well If You Have One
No federal program monitors private wells. If you are within a few miles of any contamination source, testing is essential. See our Testing Your Water page for certified lab options.
04
Contact Your State Environmental Agency
State agencies have authority to investigate, require testing, and in some cases fund alternate water sources or filter programs for affected residents. See our Your Rights page for how to file a complaint.
05
Filter Your Water If PFAS Are Confirmed
An NSF/ANSI Standard 58 certified reverse osmosis system at your kitchen tap addresses the highest daily exposure source. Verify certification at nsf.org before purchasing.
What Is Being Done
Federal Cleanup and Liability
Federal Cleanup Authority
The EPA’s 2024 designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA gave federal regulators new authority to require cleanup at contaminated sites and to pursue cost recovery from responsible parties, including the Department of Defense and AFFF manufacturers. Cleanup at contaminated sites is slow and technically difficult. Removing PFAS from groundwater requires extracting contaminated water and treating it with activated carbon or ion exchange. Permanently destroying PFAS in soil at scale remains a developing technology.
Industrial Settlements
Lawsuits against PFAS manufacturers have produced major settlements. 3M agreed to pay up to $12.5 billion to water utilities. DuPont and its spinoff companies agreed to $1.185 billion. Chemours settled separately with the State of North Carolina over Cape Fear River contamination. These settlements fund water treatment upgrades at affected utilities but do not remediate the underlying groundwater contamination. See the Legal and Regulatory page for the full picture.
