PFAS in the tap water in the province of Liège
The tap water in the province of Liège meets the legal standard everywhere. In almost all areas it is also below the stricter Walloon target. In a few areas it is still above it. Here you can read what that means and what you can do yourself.
See the figuresShop ZeroWaterHow much PFAS is in the tap water in the province of Liège?
- The tap water in the province of Liège meets the legal standard everywhere (100 nanograms per litre for 20 PFAS).
- In 129 of the 134 areas it is below the target of 4 nanograms per litre.
- In 5 areas it is at or above it. The water companies have until 2028 to bring it down.
- SWDE says: there is no reason to stop drinking tap water.
Where is it above the target?
These are the five areas where the latest measurement was 4 nanograms per litre or more. For comparison, the last row shows the city of Liège.
| Area | PFAS (ng/l)* | Compared with the target | Drinking water company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nandrin, Tinlot and ModaveVillers-le-Temple, Yernée, Saint-Séverin, Fraineux, Abée, Scry, Outrelouxhe · measured July 2025 | 19 | about 5 times | IDEN |
| La Calamine (Kelmis)Hergenrath · measured April 2025 | 12 | about 3 times | Kelmis municipal water service |
| Herstal and Visépart of both municipalities · measured February 2025 | 10 | about 2.5 times | CILE |
| Juprellepart of the municipality · measured March 2025 | 6 | about 1.5 times | SWDE |
| Raerenpart of the municipality · measured May 2025 | 4 | at the target | SWDE |
| Liège (city)also most of Seraing, Herstal, Ans and Flémalle · measured September 2025 | 0 | below the target | CILE |
Why is the province of Liège mostly low?
Most tap water in the province of Liège comes from groundwater. CILE, which supplies Liège and the towns around it, pumps its water from long galleries in the chalk under Hesbaye and from springs in the Condroz. Around Verviers and Eupen, SWDE also uses water from the reservoirs of Eupen and the Gileppe. Groundwater usually contains little PFAS. That is why PFAS was not found at all in most areas.
Local pollution can still reach a water source. At the end of 2023, the water from one source in Nandrin measured 141 nanograms per litre: the only time the legal standard was exceeded in Wallonia. The water company stopped using that water straight away and added activated carbon filtration. Since early 2024 the water there has met the standard again, but the latest measurement (July 2025) was still above the target.
* Sum of the four PFAS in the target (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS), latest measurement per distribution area, taken at the kitchen tap. Source: Public Service of Wallonia (SPW), “Les PFAS dans les eaux de distribution en Wallonie – État des lieux (September 2023 – December 2025)”, March 2026. We counted the 134 distribution areas that supply municipalities in the province of Liège. Levels may vary by street and by measurement.
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
EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, 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
Wallonia aims for 4 nanograms per litre for four PFAS. The law is less strict. Below you can read the difference.
Law and target: 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 applies across the EU from 12 January 2026. Wallonia already applied it from 20 February 2025.
- The target: 4 nanograms per litre for four PFAS combined (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS). Water companies in Wallonia must try to reach it by 12 January 2028. It is based on EFSA advice.
The target 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 Wallonia is safe to drink, says SWDE.
- In all of Wallonia, only 16 of the 641 distribution areas were still at or above the target in the latest measurements. Five of them are in the province of Liège.
- Drinking water made from groundwater usually contains less PFAS than water made from rivers.
- Boiling does not remove PFAS from your water.
ZeroWater filters PFAS
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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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Add to cartView product →Questions about PFAS in the province of Liège
Can I still drink the tap water in the province of Liège?
Yes. The tap water in the province of Liège meets the legal standard everywhere. SWDE says there is no reason to stop 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.
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 and soil, they reach the water used to make drinking water. Sometimes a local source, such as an old site where firefighting foam was used, affects one water source. That is what happened in Nandrin.
How do I find out the figures for my street?
Your water bill shows who supplies your water: CILE, SWDE or your municipality. They can tell you the latest PFAS results for your area. The full list of all Walloon distribution areas is in the SPW report (see the sources below).
Know what you drink
Just tap water, but with less PFAS. For you and your family in the province of Liège.
Shop ZeroWaterReplacement filters- Public Service of Wallonia (SPW) – Les PFAS dans les eaux de distribution en Wallonie, état des lieux September 2023 – December 2025, March 2026 (in French). View PDF
- SWDE – Water and PFAS: what do I need to know? swde.be
- CILE – Water quality (in French). cile.be
- L'Avenir – PFAS in Nandrin, Tinlot and Modave: the water will be filtered with activated carbon, January 2024 (in French). lavenir.net
- Wallonia brings forward the PFAS standard for drinking water, February 2025 (in Dutch). businessam.be
- EFSA – PFAS in food: risk assessment and 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.