PFAS in the tap water in Limburg
The tap water in the Belgian province of Limburg meets the legal standard. Still, in the east and centre of the province it contains more PFAS than the Flemish target of 4 nanograms per litre. 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 Limburg?
- The tap water in Limburg meets the legal standard. The highest measurement for 20 PFAS combined was 51 ng/l; the limit is 100 ng/l.
- In 23 of the 42 municipalities, at least part of the tap water is above the target.
- In the north (Kempen) and the south (Haspengouw), PFAS were hardly measurable.
- VMM and De Watergroep say: tap water in Flanders is safe to drink.
Why is there more PFAS in some parts of Limburg?
Most tap water in Limburg is made from groundwater. Groundwater usually contains less PFAS than river water. Still, there are big differences within the province. The highest levels are in East Limburg, around Genk, Maasmechelen, Lanaken and Dilsen-Stokkem, and around Hasselt and Diepenbeek.
PFAS can reach groundwater through the soil, for example from industry or firefighting foam. How much is in your tap water depends on the production centre your water comes from.
* Sum of the four PFAS in the target (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS), median of the 2024 measurements per supply area. Source: VMM (Flanders Environment Agency), drinking water quality per supply area 2024, based on data from De Watergroep. 0 means: not measurable. Levels may vary by street and by measurement.
PFAS per municipality in Limburg
Many municipalities get their water from more than one supply area. That is why we show the lowest and the highest value. Want to know exactly what comes out of your tap? Check your address on the De Watergroep website (in Dutch).
| Municipality | PFAS (ng/l)* | vs. target | Highest single measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| BilzenSince 2025 part of Bilzen-Hoeselt · 3 supply areas | 0.0 – 10.0 | Partly above the target | Highest: 12.0 ng/l |
| Dilsen-Stokkem3 supply areas | 0.0 – 10.0 | Partly above the target | Highest: 12.0 ng/l |
| Lanaken2 supply areas | 0.0 – 10.0 | Partly above the target | Highest: 12.0 ng/l |
| Maasmechelen2 supply areas | 5.5 – 10.0 | Above the target | Highest: 12.0 ng/l |
| Zutendaal2 supply areas | 8.0 – 10.0 | Above the target | Highest: 12.0 ng/l |
| Alken2 supply areas | 0.0 – 9.0 | Partly above the target | Highest: 10.0 ng/l |
| Diepenbeek | 9.0 | Above the target | Highest: 10.0 ng/l |
| Hasselt4 supply areas | 0.0 – 9.0 | Partly above the target | Highest: 10.0 ng/l |
| As3 supply areas | 5.5 – 8.0 | Above the target | Highest: 12.0 ng/l |
| Genk | 8.0 | Above the target | Highest: 12.0 ng/l |
| Hechtel-Eksel3 supply areas | 0.0 – 5.5 | Partly above the target | Highest: 8.0 ng/l |
| Houthalen-Helchteren2 supply areas | 5.0 – 5.5 | Above the target | Highest: 8.0 ng/l |
| Maaseik3 supply areas | 0.0 – 5.5 | Partly above the target | Highest: 8.0 ng/l |
| Oudsbergen2 supply areas | 0.0 – 5.5 | Partly above the target | Highest: 8.0 ng/l |
| Peer3 supply areas | 0.0 – 5.5 | Partly above the target | Highest: 8.0 ng/l |
| Beringen2 supply areas | 0.5 – 5.0 | Partly above the target | Highest: 6.0 ng/l |
| Halen5 supply areas | 0.0 – 5.0 | Partly above the target | Highest: 6.0 ng/l |
| HamSince 2025 part of Tessenderlo-Ham | 5.0 | Above the target | Highest: 6.0 ng/l |
| Heusden-Zolder2 supply areas | 0.0 – 5.0 | Partly above the target | Highest: 6.0 ng/l |
| Leopoldsburg | 5.0 | Above the target | Highest: 6.0 ng/l |
| Lummen2 supply areas | 0.5 – 5.0 | Partly above the target | Highest: 6.0 ng/l |
| TessenderloSince 2025 part of Tessenderlo-Ham · 2 supply areas | 0.5 – 5.0 | Partly above the target | Highest: 6.0 ng/l |
| Zonhoven | 5.0 | Above the target | Highest: 6.0 ng/l |
| HoeseltSince 2025 part of Bilzen-Hoeselt · 4 supply areas | 0.0 – 2.0 | Below the target | Highest: 4.0 ng/l |
| KortessemSince 2025 part of Hasselt · 2 supply areas | 0.0 – 2.0 | Below the target | Highest: 4.0 ng/l |
| TongerenSince 2025 part of Tongeren-Borgloon · 5 supply areas | 0.0 – 2.0 | Below the target | Highest: 3.0 ng/l |
| BorgloonSince 2025 part of Tongeren-Borgloon · 3 supply areas | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 10.0 ng/l |
| Bocholt2 supply areas | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 7.0 ng/l |
| Bree | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 6.0 ng/l |
| Lommel2 supply areas | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 6.0 ng/l |
| Pelt3 supply areas | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 6.0 ng/l |
| Hamont-Achel | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 5.0 ng/l |
| Herstappe | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 1.0 ng/l |
| Kinrooi | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 1.0 ng/l |
| Riemst | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 1.0 ng/l |
| Voeren2 supply areas | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 1.0 ng/l |
| Gingelom | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 0.0 ng/l |
| Heers3 supply areas | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 0.0 ng/l |
| Herk-de-Stad | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 0.0 ng/l |
| Nieuwerkerken2 supply areas | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 0.0 ng/l |
| Sint-Truiden4 supply areas | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 0.0 ng/l |
| Wellen2 supply areas | 0.0 | Below the target | Highest: 0.0 ng/l |
* Median per supply area in 2024, sum of PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS. Municipality names as in 2024. Source: VMM.
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
Flanders aims for 4 nanograms per litre for four PFAS by 2028. 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. The tap water in Limburg meets it.
- The target: 4 nanograms per litre for four PFAS combined (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS). Flanders wants to reach this by 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 Flanders is safe to drink, say VMM and De Watergroep.
- In Limburg, drinking water is mostly made from groundwater.
- Groundwater usually contains less PFAS than surface water such as rivers and canals.
- 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 Limburg
Can I still drink the tap water in Limburg?
Yes. The tap water in Limburg meets the legal standard. VMM and De Watergroep say 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.
Why is there more PFAS in East Limburg?
Most tap water in Limburg comes from groundwater. PFAS can reach that groundwater through the soil, for example from industry or firefighting foam. The level differs per production centre. That is why the figures in East Limburg are higher than in the Kempen or Haspengouw.
How do I find the figures for my address?
Many municipalities have more than one supply area. On the De Watergroep website you can enter your address and see the measurements for your tap water, including PFAS.
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 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.
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.
Know what you drink
Just tap water, but with less PFAS. For you and your family in Limburg.
Shop ZeroWaterReplacement filters- VMM (Flanders Environment Agency) – Drinking water quality per supply area, 2024 (in Dutch). vmm.vlaanderen.be
- VMM – Drinking water quality report 2024 (in Dutch). vmm.vlaanderen.be
- VMM – Is there PFOS or PFAS in tap water? (in Dutch). vmm.vlaanderen.be
- De Watergroep – Your drinking water: look up your address (in Dutch). dewatergroep.be
- Flemish Parliament – Committee on Environment, 11 March 2025, PFAS in drinking water in Genk and Maasmechelen (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.