PFPeS in Connecticut Drinking Water
By Alexander Snyder, Founder & Water Quality Data Lead
PFPeS has been tracked across Connecticut drinking water. Here is what you need to know about pfpes in your drinking water and how it may affect your household.
What Is PFPeS?
PFPeS (perfluoropentane sulfonic acid) is a five-carbon short-chain PFAS compound found in water supplies impacted by firefighting foam and industrial PFAS use. It enters water through contaminated groundwater, landfill leachate, and wastewater effluent. No EPA maximum contaminant level has been established. It is environmentally persistent and associated with potential thyroid, liver, and immune system effects based on its structural similarity to other sulfonated PFAS.
Is PFPeS in Your Water?
Enter your Connecticut ZIP code to find out if pfpes is in your local water — and see personalized health risks for your household.
Check Your ZIP CodeHealth Effects of PFPeS
Part of the PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) family of 'forever chemicals.' Linked to cancer, immune system harm, hormone disruption, and developmental effects. Does not break down in the environment or the human body.
Where Does PFPeS Come From?
Industrial discharge, firefighting foam (AFFF), consumer products, landfill leachate, wastewater treatment plants.
How to Reduce PFPeS in Your Water
- 1Install a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58, which is effective at removing short-chain sulfonated PFAS compounds like PFPeS.
- 2Use an activated carbon filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53; short-chain PFAS may require more frequent filter changes due to lower adsorption affinity.
- 3Consider an ion exchange resin system designed for PFAS removal, which can be effective for sulfonated short-chain PFAS at whole-house treatment volumes.
- 4Test water using EPA Method 533 to detect PFPeS and monitor your treatment system regularly, as short-chain PFAS can break through filters sooner than expected.
Who Is Most Vulnerable to PFPeS?
The safe level of pfpes varies significantly depending on who is drinking the water. CheckYourTap calculates adjusted safe levels for each member of your household:
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.
Reading this inside ChatGPT or Claude?
This page can tell you the general science, but not what is actually in your water’s pfpes level — that depends on your exact address. You can get your specific answer two ways:
- Inside the chat: ask your assistant to “check my tap water with CheckYourTap”. Our connector returns your ZIP code’s measured contaminant levels — including the derived dog and cat safe levels — and, only if you ask it to, can email you the report or arrange a specialist callback.
- On the web: open CheckYourTap.com and enter your ZIP code for a free 30-second report.
Concerned about PFPeS in your water?
Schedule to get your water tested for pfpes and more — a Valiant water specialist will review your results and arrange testing for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PFPeS in my tap water?▾
What level of PFPeS is safe?▾
How do I remove PFPeS from my water?▾
Related Contaminants
Check Water Quality by ZIP Code
Sources
The legal limits and health guidelines for PFPeS on this page come from the following public authorities:
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.
This report is general information, not medical advice or a substitute for certified laboratory testing. Talk to your pediatrician or physician about specific health concerns.
Reviewed by the CheckYourTap editorial team. Last updated July 2026