Yes, at low levels. 1 PFAS was detected, all below EPA's 2024 limits.
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBA.
Washington County Water Company is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Nashville, Illinois, serving about 11,374 people, including Addieville, Baldwin, Bartelso, Belleville, Coulterville, Cutler. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 16 times across 4 sampling points between May 2024 and Feb 2025.
| PFAS | Detected | Highest | Worst point avg | EPA limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFBA Perfluorobutanoic acid |
13 of 16 | 8.2 ppt | 6.9 ppt | none |
Not detected: PFHpS, 4:2 FTS, PFMPA, PFMBA, PFEESA, 6:2 FTS, PFPeS, 8:2 FTS, PFBS, PFHpA, PFTA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, NMeFOSAA, NFDHA, PFOS, PFPeA, PFNA, PFOA, PFDA, PFDoA, PFHxA, PFUnA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, HFPO-DA, PFHxS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
Levels here are under EPA's limits, so no treatment is required. If you want them lower anyway, a certified reverse osmosis system under the sink handles drinking water, and a whole-house carbon filter also takes out the chlorine or chloramine your utility adds.
All 487 tested systems in Illinois
62214 62217 62218 62221 62237 62238 62255 62257 62258 62263 62264 62268 62271 62272 62274 62286 62808 62831 62832 62877 62883 62888 62894 62898 62907 62916
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Washington County Water Company water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID IL1895600. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/illinois/washington-county-water-company/
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID IL1895600). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
