PFAS in the tap water in the province of Antwerp
The tap water in the province of Antwerp meets the legal standard. In most municipalities it is also below the Flemish target value of 4 nanograms per litre, but not everywhere. Here you can read what the figures mean and what you can do yourself.
See the figures Shop ZeroWaterHow much PFAS is in the tap water in the province of Antwerp?
- The tap water in the province of Antwerp meets the legal standard (100 nanograms per litre for 20 PFAS combined).
- In 15 of the 16 supply areas the median is below the target value. In Boechout and Kontich it is just above the target value.
- Individual measurements came out higher: up to 7.0 ng/l at water-link and up to 5.2 ng/l in Pidpa area 14.
- The VMM, Pidpa and water-link say: just keep drinking tap water.
Why do the figures differ within the province?
The tap water in the province of Antwerp comes from two companies. water-link makes drinking water for Antwerp and part of the surrounding area. That water comes mainly from the river Meuse, via the Albert Canal and the Nete Canal, and is treated in Oelegem, Notmeir and Walem. River and canal water usually contains more PFAS than groundwater.
Pidpa supplies the rest of the province. Pidpa takes its water from about 250 wells, 50 to 200 metres deep, spread over 23 groundwater sites. Groundwater also differs from site to site. That is why the figures are not the same everywhere.
* Sum of the four PFAS in the target value (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS), median per supply area in 2024. Source: VMM (Flanders Environment Agency), drinking water quality per supply area 2024. Levels may vary by street and by measurement.
Figures per supply area
A supply area is a part of the network that gets water from the same source. Some municipalities fall in more than one area.
| Supply area | Municipalities | Median (ng/l) | Highest measurement (ng/l) |
|---|---|---|---|
| water-link (AWW-PST) | Antwerpen (part), Edegem, Hove, Mortsel, Beveren, Zwijndrecht | 3.3 | 7.0 |
| water-link (AWW-PB) | Antwerpen (part) | not detected | 2.8 |
| Pidpa 15 | Boechout, Kontich | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| Pidpa 14 | Bornem, Kapelle-op-den-Bos, Mechelen, Puurs-Sint-Amands, Willebroek | 3.9 | 5.2 |
| Pidpa 13 | Boechout, Duffel, Grobbendonk, Lier, Lint, Mechelen, Nijlen, Ranst, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Zandhoven | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Pidpa 11 | Begijnendijk, Berlaar, Bonheiden, Boortmeerbeek, Geel, Heist-op-den-Berg, Herselt, Hulshout, Laakdal, Putte, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Westerlo | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Pidpa 1 | Balen, Geel, Laakdal, Meerhout | 2.8 | 2.9 |
| Pidpa 7 | Balen, Geel, Mol | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| Pidpa 12 | Aartselaar, Boom, Hemiksem, Kontich, Niel, Rumst, Schelle | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| Pidpa 4 | Geel, Grobbendonk, Herentals, Herenthout, Kasterlee, Lille, Olen, Vorselaar, Zandhoven | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Pidpa 2 | Borsbeek, Brasschaat, Brecht, Kapellen, Schilde, Schoten, Wijnegem, Wommelgem | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Pidpa 9 | Arendonk, Dessel, Geel, Kasterlee, Mol, Oud-Turnhout, Ravels, Retie, Turnhout | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Pidpa 6 | Kalmthout, Kapellen, Stabroek, Wuustwezel | not detected | 1.3 |
| Pidpa 3 | Essen, Kalmthout | not detected | not detected |
| Pidpa 5 | Baarle-Hertog, Beerse, Brecht, Hoogstraten, Lille, Malle, Ranst, Rijkevorsel, Schilde, Wuustwezel, Zoersel | not detected | not detected |
| Pidpa 8 | Baarle-Hertog, Beerse, Lille, Merksplas, Vosselaar | not detected | not detected |
Sum of PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS, 2024. “Not detected” means below the detection limit (0 in the VMM data). Red = above the target value of 4 ng/l. Municipality names as in the 2024 VMM data; some areas extend into Flemish Brabant or East Flanders. You can find your own supply area on the website of Pidpa or water-link.
What is PFAS?
PFAS is a large group of man-made substances. They are found in many things you use every day.
- Non-stick pans
- Rain jackets and outdoor clothing
- Food packaging
- Cosmetics and firefighting foam
Why is it called a ‘forever chemical’?
- PFAS hardly break down in nature.
- They enter rivers and groundwater through factories and products.
- That water is also used to make drinking water.
- They stay in your body for a long time.
Why PFAS deserves attention
The European Food Safety Authority EFSA says: part of the European population takes in more PFAS than is good for their health. This comes mainly from food, but also from drinking water.
It builds up
Your body clears PFAS only slowly. Small amounts add up over the years.
Effect on your immune system
According to EFSA, even small amounts of PFAS can make your immune system work less well.
The target is stricter than the law
Flanders aims for 4 nanograms per litre for four PFAS. The law is less strict. Below you can read the difference.
Law and target value: what's the difference?
There are two numbers you may read about. They don't measure the same thing, but this is how it works:
- The law (EU): a maximum of 100 nanograms per litre for 20 PFAS combined. It has applied throughout the EU since 12 January 2026.
- The target value: 4 nanograms per litre for four PFAS combined (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS). Flanders wants to reach it by 2028. It is based on advice from EFSA.
The target value is stricter because it looks at the four PFAS that have been studied most and that EFSA considers most important for your health.
Good to know
- Tap water in Flanders is safe to drink, says the VMM.
- Drinking water made from groundwater usually contains less PFAS than water made from surface water, such as rivers and canals.
- Pidpa and water-link are working on measures to reach the target value everywhere by 2028.
- Boiling does not remove PFAS from your water.
ZeroWater filters PFAS
Just keep drinking tap water. Want to take in less PFAS through your water? Then a certified filter is a simple extra step.
less PFAS in your water
This percentage applies to PFOA and PFOS, the two best-known and most studied PFAS. The ZeroWater 5-stage filter has been tested for these to the NSF/ANSI 53 standard and certified by the independent institute IAPMO. View the certificate.
Tested, certified
Not a promise, but an independently tested result. Tested with far more PFOA and PFOS than is found in Belgian tap water.
More than just PFAS
The filter is also certified for lead, chromium-6, mercury and chlorine. That makes your water taste purer too.
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Every jug comes with a TDS meter. It shows how pure your water is. Does it show 006? Then it's time for a new filter.
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Add to cartView product →Questions about PFAS in the province of Antwerp
Can I still drink the tap water in the province of Antwerp?
Yes. The tap water in the province of Antwerp meets the legal standard. The VMM, Pidpa and water-link say you can just keep drinking tap water. Want to take in less PFAS? Then you can filter your water as an extra step.
Does ZeroWater filter all PFAS?
The honest answer: ZeroWater is certified for PFOA and PFOS, the two best-known PFAS. There are thousands of types of PFAS. We have no certificate for the other types, so we don't make any promises about them.
How do I know which supply area I live in?
Look up your address with your drinking water company: Pidpa or water-link. Your water bill shows which company supplies your water. The VMM also publishes the figures per supply area online.
Does the TDS meter show how much PFAS is in my water?
No. The meter measures dissolved solids such as limescale and metals. PFAS are present in such tiny amounts that a TDS meter can't measure them. The meter does help you see when your filter is used up: when it shows 006, replace your filter.
Does boiling or bottled water help?
Boiling does not remove PFAS from water. Bottled water creates a lot of plastic waste. A filter on your regular tap water is a simpler alternative.
Where does PFAS in drinking water come from?
PFAS end up in the environment through factories, firefighting foam and products. Through rivers, canals and soil, they reach the water used to make drinking water. That is why drinking water made from surface water often contains more PFAS than drinking water made from groundwater.
Know what you drink
Just tap water, but with less PFAS. For you and your family in the province of Antwerp.
Shop ZeroWater Replacement filters- VMM (Flanders Environment Agency) – Drinking water quality per supply area, 2024, with Excel per supply area (in Dutch). vmm.vlaanderen.be
- VMM – Is there PFOS or PFAS in tap water? (in Dutch). vmm.vlaanderen.be
- Pidpa – Pidpa drinking water comfortably meets all PFAS standards, December 2025 (in Dutch). pidpa.be
- water-link – Drinking water from water-link is safe: PFAS levels well below European guidelines (in Dutch). water-link.be
- Flemish Parliament – Answer to written question no. 49 on PFAS in drinking water, October 2025 (in Dutch). vlaamsparlement.be
- EFSA – PFAS in food: EFSA assesses risks and sets tolerable intake, 2020. efsa.europa.eu
- EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184. eur-lex.europa.eu
- ZeroWater Performance Data Sheet, IAPMO certification to NSF/ANSI 53 and 42. View PDF
ZeroWater is certified for the reduction of PFOA and PFOS. Results were achieved under laboratory conditions; actual results may vary.