In March 2026, the Hartford Business Journal reported that Connecticut's largest water utilities face hundreds of millions of dollars in costs to filter PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — from drinking water. The EPA's new PFAS regulations set the first-ever federal limits for these chemicals. Aquarion Water Company, which serves most of Fairfield County, put a number on it: roughly $150 million for their remediation program.
That number is striking. What's more striking is the timeline. The EPA's new PFAS maximum contaminant levels — the first federal drinking water limits ever set for these chemicals — have a compliance deadline of 2031. Water utilities have until then to get their PFAS levels below the new limits.
That's five years. Five years of water that may contain PFAS above the limits that the EPA itself has determined are unsafe.
What Does PFAS Actually Do to Your Body?
PFAS is a family of about 12,000 synthetic chemicals that have been used since the 1940s in nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, food packaging, firefighting foam, and hundreds of industrial applications. They're called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down — in the environment, or in your body.
The health effects documented by the ATSDR's toxicological profile for PFAS include increased risk of kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, immune system disruption, and reproductive problems. The EPA set its new limits specifically because the science on these effects has become impossible to ignore.
Here's the connection that almost nobody is making: thyroid disease is one of the most common diagnoses in Fairfield County. The thyroid is one of the organs most sensitive to PFAS disruption. PFAS interfere with thyroid hormone production and regulation. Fairfield County has some of the most PFAS-contaminated groundwater in Connecticut. These facts exist in separate conversations. They shouldn't.
Where the Contamination Comes From
Fairfield County's PFAS problem has multiple sources, and they compound each other.
Aquarion's supply is heavily dependent on groundwater — wells that draw from aquifers that have been absorbing PFAS for decades from multiple directions. Military bases used PFAS-containing firefighting foam (AFFF) for decades. Industrial facilities — paper mills, electroplating plants, textile manufacturers — used PFAS in their processes. Airports used AFFF. All of it eventually reaches the groundwater.
In October 2025, a lawsuit was filed against Kimberly-Clark over PFAS contamination from their New Milford facility. Testing conducted in April 2024 found high levels of PFOS and PFOA — two of the most dangerous PFAS compounds — in a private well near the facility. New Milford is in Litchfield County, on the edge of Aquarion's service territory, and groundwater doesn't respect county lines.
Connecticut's Attorney General William Tong filed suit in January 2024 against 28 chemical manufacturers for knowingly contaminating Connecticut's waters. The legal theory is sound. The timeline for resolution is not: these cases will take years, possibly a decade, to resolve.
Why Is 2031 Too Late for Fairfield County?
The EPA's compliance deadline gives utilities time to build treatment infrastructure. That's a reasonable accommodation — you can't build a $150 million treatment system overnight. But it creates a gap: the science says these chemicals are harmful at very low concentrations, the EPA has set limits reflecting that science, and utilities have five years to comply.
In the meantime, the water utilities are not violating the law. They're operating within the compliance timeline. They're also delivering water that contains PFAS.
As of 2024, 19 Connecticut public water systems had a running annual average of PFAS above the EPA's new maximum contaminant levels. Aquarion serves a significant portion of those systems.
What Fairfield County Homeowners Can Do Today
The gap between "utilities are working on it" and "your water is safe" is where home filtration lives.
Reverse osmosis systems are the most effective technology for removing PFAS from drinking water. A point-of-use reverse osmosis system — typically installed under the kitchen sink — removes more than 90% of PFAS compounds. The cost runs $300-$800 for the unit, plus installation.
Whole-house reverse osmosis is more expensive ($1,500-$4,000 installed) but protects every tap in the house, including the shower. PFAS can be absorbed through skin, though the primary exposure route is ingestion.
Activated carbon filters — the kind in pitcher filters and faucet attachments — remove some PFAS but not all, and their effectiveness varies significantly by the specific PFAS compound. The EWG's Tap Water Database can help you check what specific PFAS compounds have been detected in your area. For Fairfield County residents, where PFAS contamination is real and documented, a reverse osmosis system is the more reliable choice.
The $150 million Aquarion is spending will eventually solve the problem at the utility level. Until 2031, the solution at the household level is filtration.
Wondering if PFAS is in your drinking water? Enter your ZIP code at CheckYourTap.com to see what's in your tap water — free, in 30 seconds.
Keep Reading
- Your Connecticut Water Bill Is Going Up Because of PFAS. Here's What You're Actually Paying For.
- The Connection Between Your Water, Your Thyroid, and Your Hair That Nobody Is Making
- The Navy Has Been Poisoning the Water in Groton for Decades. The People Who Live There Are Just Finding Out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much PFAS is in Fairfield County drinking water right now?
As of 2024, Aquarion Water Company — which serves most of Fairfield County — had PFAS detected in its groundwater-dependent supply. Nineteen Connecticut public water systems had running annual averages above the EPA's new maximum contaminant levels of 4 parts per trillion for PFOS and PFOA. The specific levels vary by well and treatment plant, but Aquarion has acknowledged the contamination and committed $150 million to remediation.
What is the best water filter for removing PFAS?
Reverse osmosis is the most effective home technology for PFAS removal, eliminating more than 90% of PFAS compounds. A point-of-use system installed under the kitchen sink costs $300–$800 plus installation. Activated carbon filters (pitcher filters, faucet attachments) remove some PFAS but not all — their effectiveness varies significantly by compound. For Fairfield County residents with documented PFAS contamination, reverse osmosis is the more reliable choice.
Is Fairfield County tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Fairfield County tap water is legally compliant — utilities have until 2031 to meet the EPA's new PFAS limits. However, "legal" and "safe" are not the same thing. The EPA set these limits because the science shows health effects at very low concentrations, including increased risk of kidney cancer, thyroid disease, and immune system disruption. Until Aquarion completes its $150 million treatment program, home filtration with a reverse osmosis system is the most effective way to reduce PFAS exposure.
Sources: Hartford Business Journal, "CT water utilities face hundreds of millions in PFAS compliance costs," March 9, 2026; CT DEP 2024 Annual Report on Drinking Water; CT AG William Tong press release, January 25, 2024; Silver Golub & Teitell lawsuit against Kimberly-Clark, October 2025; EPA PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, 2024.