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Arecibo Urbano tap water

Worth a closer look

PFAS were detected at Arecibo Urbano, but every regulated compound averaged under its limit.

PFAS test results

Highest average at any one sampling point, from EPA's UCMR 5 testing (2024–2025), against the levels EPA set in 2024. ND = not detected above EPA's reporting level. EPA's comparison rounds like this: an average of 4.05 ppt or more counts as above the 4 ppt PFOA/PFOS limit, and 15 ppt or more counts as above the 10 ppt level for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX.

PFOAlevel 4 ppt
ND
PFOSlevel 4 ppt
1.1 ppt
PFHxSlevel 10 ppt, proposed to be rescinded
ND
PFNAlevel 10 ppt, proposed to be rescinded
ND
HFPO-DA (GenX)level 10 ppt, proposed to be rescinded
ND
7,428 of 8,990 tested utilities: no PFOA or PFOS detected
4 ppt federal limit above the limit This utility, 1.1 ppt
Each dot is one utility serving 3,300+ people with a complete EPA test set, placed at its highest sampling-point average for PFOA or PFOS. 1,562 utilities had a detection; 1,044 averaged above the limit at one or more sampling points. At 1.1 ppt, this utility's highest PFOA or PFOS average is above that of 83% of the 8,990 tested utilities.

Hazard index (PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, PFBS mix): 0.00 (limit 1, EPA comparison threshold 1.5).

All 2 detected compounds at this system (single highest result)
CompoundHighest resultResults above reporting level
6:2 FTS8.6 ppt2 of 44
PFOS4.4 ppt1 of 44

Read this as a screening result, not a compliance finding. UCMR 5 samples are occurrence data. Legal compliance is judged on a running annual average from the utility's own monitoring, reported to the state. PFOA and PFOS at 4 ppt are in force; EPA has proposed to rescind the PFHxS, PFNA, GenX and hazard-index levels.

Violations and lead

1 health-based violation began since 2021-10-26 (0 limit exceedances, 1 treatment-technique; 0 still open). Most recent began 2022-08-01.

Contaminant groupViolations
Surface-water treatment or groundwater rule1

Health-based means a limit exceedance or a missed treatment requirement. Many violations are fixed within weeks; a count says nothing about severity. Missed-sample (monitoring) violations are not counted.

No lead 90th-percentile result from 2021 or later is in the EPA file (latest on file ends 2016-12-31), so none is shown.

What helps, and what does not

Match the filter to the contaminant, not the other way round. See the filter-fit table.

Common questions

Is the tap water in Arecibo Urbano safe to drink?

PFAS were detected at Arecibo Urbano, but every regulated compound averaged under its limit. 1 health-based violation recorded since 2021-10-26 (0 not yet closed). No recent lead 90th-percentile result in the EPA file. This is a summary of public EPA data, not a guarantee about the water at your tap.

Does Arecibo Urbano have PFAS in its water?

Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing detected 2 of 29 PFAS compounds at Arecibo Urbano.

Not medical or legal advice. Results describe the utility's system, not your tap. Compare with your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report.

Sources and freshness

Public-water-system facts, violations and lead/copper results: EPA ECHO SDWA download (SDWIS snapshot 2026-10-13). PFAS and lithium results: EPA UCMR 5 final data (sampling 2023–2025). Both are U.S. government works, downloaded 2026-10-26. Numbers are computed by the published method; the same fields are in the open data files.