PFAS in tap water in Walloon Brabant
Tap water in Walloon Brabant meets the law. The latest measurements are also at or below the Walloon target of 4 ng/l. Here you can read what the figures mean, what happened in Tubize and Beauvechain, and what you can do yourself.
See the figuresShop ZeroWaterHow much PFAS is in the tap water in Walloon Brabant?
The Walloon government had the drinking water in every distribution zone tested for PFAS between September 2023 and December 2025. These are the latest results.
- Meets the law: everywhere well below 100 ng/l for 20 PFAS.
- At or below the target of 4 ng/l for the four most studied PFAS.
- In most zones the four PFAS can no longer be measured (below 1 ng/l).
Why were the figures higher before?
- Tubize, Ittre, Braine-le-Château and part of Braine-l'Alleud get some or all of their water through the ‘Feeder du Hainaut’, a pipeline carrying water from Vivaqua. Between late 2023 and mid-2025 it contained up to 35 ng/l of the four PFAS. Since summer 2025 the water has been treated more intensively with activated carbon. The values are now close to zero.
- In Beauvechain and Jodoigne up to 44 ng/l was measured in 2023 and 2024. The likely source is the military air base, where firefighting foam containing PFAS was used until 2021. SWDE installed activated carbon filters in January and April 2024. Since then, PFAS has barely been measurable there.
- In spring 2026, AVIQ ran a blood test campaign for residents of Waterloo, Tubize, Braine-le-Château, Ittre and Braine-l'Alleud.
| Municipality | PFAS (ng/l)* | vs. target | Drinking water company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jodoigne | 0 – 4 | at the target | SWDE |
| Orp-Jauche | 0 – 4 | at the target | SWDE |
| Braine-l'Alleud | 0 – 3 | below the target | inBW, SWDE |
| Genappe | 0 – 3 | below the target | inBW |
| Lasne | 0 – 3 | below the target | inBW |
| Waterloo | 0 – 3 | below the target | inBW |
| Chastre | 0 – 1.4 | below the target | inBW, SWDE |
| Incourt | 0 – 1.4 | below the target | SWDE |
| Walhain | 0 – 1.4 | below the target | SWDE |
| Nivelles | 0 – 1.3 | below the target | SWDE |
| Villers-la-Ville | 0 – 1.2 | below the target | inBW |
| Ittre | 0 – 1 | below the target | SWDE |
| Tubize | 0 – 1 | below the target | SWDE |
| Wavre | 0 – 1 | below the target | inBW |
| Beauvechain | 0 | below the target | SWDE |
| Braine-le-Château | 0 | below the target | inBW, SWDE |
| Chaumont-Gistoux | 0 | below the target | SWDE |
| Court-Saint-Étienne | 0 | below the target | inBW |
| Grez-Doiceau | 0 | below the target | SWDE |
| Hélécine | 0 | below the target | SWDE |
| La Hulpe | 0 | below the target | inBW |
| Mont-Saint-Guibert | 0 | below the target | inBW |
| Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve | 0 | below the target | inBW |
| Perwez | 0 | below the target | Régie Perwez, SWDE |
| Ramillies | 0 | below the target | SWDE |
| Rebecq | 0 | below the target | SWDE |
| Rixensart | 0 | below the target | SWDE, inBW |
* Sum of PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS, latest measurement per distribution zone (September 2023 – December 2025). A municipality with several zones gets a range. 0 = not measurable (below 1 ng/l). Jodoigne and Orp-Jauche: the value 4 comes from the Saint-Lambert zone, last measured in February 2024. Source: Service public de Wallonie (SPW), March 2026.
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 and Wallonia aim 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. Brussels (2024) and Wallonia (2025) already applied it earlier.
- The target: 4 nanograms per litre for four PFAS combined (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS). Flanders and Wallonia want 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 Belgium is safe to drink, say VMM (Flanders), SWDE (Wallonia) and Vivaqua (Brussels).
- Drinking water made from groundwater usually contains less PFAS than water made from surface water such as rivers and canals.
- About 97% of the tap water in Brussels comes from Wallonia.
- 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.
See it for yourself 000 PPM
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.
Start filtering right away
Choose the jug that suits your household. A filter is included, so you can filter your first jug of tap water straight away.
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Add to cartView product →Questions about PFAS
Can I still drink the tap water in Walloon Brabant?
Yes. The tap water meets the legal standard everywhere, and the latest measurements are at or below the Walloon target. SWDE and inBW say there is no reason to stop drinking tap water. Want to take in less PFOA and PFOS? Then you can filter your water as an extra step.
Why was there more PFAS in Tubize, Ittre and Beauvechain?
In Tubize, Ittre and Braine-le-Château it came from water supplied through the Feeder du Hainaut. Since summer 2025 that water has been treated more intensively. In Beauvechain and Jodoigne the likely source is firefighting foam from the military air base. Activated carbon filters have been in use there since 2024.
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 can I find the figures for my address?
On the website of your drinking water company, inBW or SWDE. Enter your address to see the analysis for your distribution zone.
Know what you drink
Just tap water, but with less PFOA and PFOS. For you and your family at home.
Shop ZeroWaterReplacement filters- Service public de Wallonie – PFAS in distribution water in Wallonia, state of play, March 2026 (in French). environnement.wallonie.be
- City of Tubize – PFAS: state of play and actions taken (in French). tubize.be
- Municipality of Beauvechain – PFAS pollution (in French). beauvechain.eu
- L'Avenir – Second PFAS screening campaign in Walloon Brabant, 4 March 2026 (in French). lavenir.net
- SWDE – Water and PFAS: what do I need to know? swde.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.