Is there PFAS in Ponce Urbano water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Ponce Urbano averaged 25.3 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 6.3 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Ponce Urbano
Serves 113,972 people · 52 PFOA samples from 23 sampling points · Jun 2023 to Mar 2024
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
2.6 ppt avg · max 5.1
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
25.3 ppt avg · max 25.6
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
15.0 ppt avg · max 16.7
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
1.5 avg · max 1.7
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBS, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFDoA.
Ponce Urbano is a public water system drawing on surface water, Puerto Rico, serving about 113,972 people. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 52 times across 23 sampling points between Jun 2023 and Mar 2024.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: PFNA, 8:2 FTS, PFDA, PFUnA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, 4:2 FTS, HFPO-DA, PFMPA, PFMBA, PFEESA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFHpS, PFTA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, NMeFOSAA, PFHpA, 6:2 FTS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 25.3 ppb, detected in 4 of 52 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.
What the EPA limits mean here
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.
What you can do at home
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in Puerto Rico
All 99 tested systems in Puerto Rico
ZIP codes served
00731
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Ponce Urbano water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID PR0003824. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/puerto-rico/ponce-urbano/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID PR0003824). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
