Is my tap water safe to drink in Connecticut?

It depends on your ZIP code and who lives in your home. CheckYourTap analyzes 120+ contaminants in your local water supply and shows which ones exceed health guidelines — not just legal limits. Many contaminants are legal but still pose health risks, especially for babies, pregnant women, elderly, and pets.

What contaminants are in Connecticut tap water?

Connecticut tap water commonly contains disinfection byproducts (haloacetic acids, trihalomethanes), lead from aging pipes, PFAS (forever chemicals), nitrates, arsenic, and radionuclides like radium. The specific contaminants and levels vary by water system — enter your ZIP code to see your local results.

How does CheckYourTap differ from EWG or other water quality databases?

CheckYourTap is the only water quality report personalized for your household composition. Tell us who lives in your home — babies, children, pregnant women, elderly, dogs, or cats — and we calculate adjusted safe levels for each person. A contaminant safe for adults may exceed guidelines for infants by 8x or more.

Is CheckYourTap free?

Yes, CheckYourTap is completely free. Enter your Connecticut ZIP code and household members to get a personalized water quality report with health risk assessments for 120+ contaminants.

Does CheckYourTap cover well water in Connecticut?

Yes. CheckYourTap covers both city water (public water systems) and private well water in Connecticut. Well water reports use USGS groundwater data and include geology-based risk factors for arsenic, uranium, and radon specific to your area.

PFAS

PFOS in Connecticut Drinking Water

PFOS has been detected in water systems serving 6,377 ZIP codes nationwide. Here is what you need to know about pfos in your drinking water and how it may affect your household.

What Is PFOS?

PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) is a synthetic fluorinated compound used historically in firefighting foams, stain repellents, and industrial coatings. It persists indefinitely in the environment, earning PFAS chemicals the name "forever chemicals." The EPA maximum contaminant level is 4 parts per trillion. PFOS accumulates in the body and is linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and immune suppression.

Is PFOS in Your Water?

Enter your Connecticut ZIP code to find out if pfos is in your local water — and see personalized health risks for your household.

Check Your ZIP Code

Health Effects of PFOS

Cancer; harm to the immune system; hormone disruption; harm to fetal growth and child development; harm to the liver

Safety Guidelines

Health Guideline

0.000001 mg/L

Source: CA_OEHHA_PHG

Legal Limit (MCL)

4 ppt

EPA Maximum Contaminant Level

Where Does PFOS Come From?

Firefighting foam (AFFF), industrial discharge, landfills, wastewater treatment plants. PFOS is a 'forever chemical' that does not break down in the environment.

How to Reduce PFOS in Your Water

1Install a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58, which removes over 90% of PFOS from drinking water at the point of use.
2Use a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter or carbon block filter rated for PFAS removal; look for NSF/ANSI Standard 53 certification specifically listing PFOS.
3Consider a whole-house ion exchange resin system designed for PFAS if contamination levels are elevated, as these resins have high adsorption capacity for sulfonated compounds.
4Test your water through a laboratory offering EPA Method 533 or 537.1 analysis to confirm PFOS levels before and after treatment to verify filter performance.

Who Is Most Vulnerable to PFOS?

The safe level of pfos varies significantly depending on who is drinking the water. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for each member of your household:

Infants (under 1 year)

Toddlers (1-3 years)

Children (4-11 years)

Pregnant women

Elderly (65+)

Adults

Dogs

Cats

A contaminant level that is safe for an adult may exceed guidelines for an infant by 4-8x or more. Check your ZIP code to see personalized results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PFOS in my tap water?▾

PFOS has been detected in water systems across 6,377 ZIP codes. Whether it's in your specific water depends on your local water system. Enter your CT ZIP code at CheckYourTap.com for a free, instant report.

What level of PFOS is safe?▾

The safe level depends on who is drinking the water. The health guideline is 0.000001 mg/L, but infants, pregnant women, and pets may need much lower levels. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for 11 different household member types.

How do I remove PFOS from my water?▾

Install a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58, which removes over 90% of PFOS from drinking water at the point of use. Use a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter or carbon block filter rated for PFAS removal; look for NSF/ANSI Standard 53 certification specifically listing PFOS. For a personalized consultation, contact Valiant Energy Solutions at (475) 557-5107.

Related Contaminants

PFHxS PFOA PFNA PFHpA PFBS

Check Water Quality by ZIP Code

Hartford 06103 New Haven 06510 Bridgeport 06604 Stamford 06901 Waterbury 06702 Norwalk 06850 Danbury 06810 Manchester 06040 View all cities →

View all contaminants in Connecticut water

About This Report

This water quality report is compiled from public records filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state health departments, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Contaminant levels are evaluated against EPA federal standards and health-based guidelines from leading environmental and public health organizations. CheckYourTap is a service of Valiant Energy Solutions, a Connecticut water quality and energy services company established in 1930.

EPA SDWISUSGS NWISEWG Tap Water DatabaseCA OEHHA Public Health GoalsWHO Drinking Water Guidelines

Last updated March 2026