Fairfield County tap water: hardness, PFAS and lead
Fairfield County, Connecticut has about 942,426 residents (Census 2020 estimate, the last for Connecticut's former counties) and 61 community water systems in EPA records. The largest local system is Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County, serving about 351,756 people from surface water.
✓ 0 of 6 largest systems with health-based violationsPFAS detected at 5 of 6 sampled systemsHardness 3.0 gpg (high confidence)
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
How hard is Fairfield County water?
Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield CountyMeasured (utility report, 2025) · High confidence
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
Softener size at 3 gpg
For a 3-person home using 57 gallons per person per day and regenerating weekly, you'd remove about 3,591 grains between regenerations. Suggested size: 24,000 grain.
Estimate only. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
The 6 biggest of 61 community water systems on EPA records for this county. Service areas don't follow county lines; your water bill names your provider.
Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County
CT0150011 · serves about 351,756 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detectionPFAS detected (7 types)
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2026-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFOA: highest sample 10.9 ppt (3 of 14 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFBA: highest sample 7.6 ppt (3 of 14 samples); no federal limit
PFHxA: highest sample 7.4 ppt (2 of 14 samples); no federal limit
PFPeA: highest sample 6.7 ppt (2 of 14 samples); no federal limit
PFOS: highest sample 6.6 ppt (2 of 14 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFBS: highest sample 4.1 ppt (1 of 14 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
PFHpA: highest sample 3.9 ppt (1 of 14 samples); no federal limit
CT1350011 · serves about 119,214 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detectionPFAS detected (3 types)
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2026-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFOA: highest sample 4.3 ppt (3 of 8 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFPeA: highest sample 3.1 ppt (1 of 8 samples); no federal limit
PFHxA: highest sample 3 ppt (1 of 8 samples); no federal limit
CT0340011 · serves about 62,055 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detectionPFAS detected (4 types)
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2026-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFOA: highest sample 5.4 ppt (7 of 8 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFBS: highest sample 4.3 ppt (4 of 8 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
PFHxA: highest sample 3.6 ppt (2 of 8 samples); no federal limit
PFPeA: highest sample 3.4 ppt (3 of 8 samples); no federal limit
CT0570011 · serves about 53,297 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detectionPFAS detected (4 types)
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2026-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFOA: highest sample 5.6 ppt (11 of 12 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFOS: highest sample 4.1 ppt (2 of 12 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFHxA: highest sample 4 ppt (6 of 12 samples); no federal limit
PFPeA: highest sample 3.8 ppt (2 of 12 samples); no federal limit
CT1030021 · serves about 42,000 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detection✓ No PFAS detected
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2026-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
CT1030011 · serves about 40,256 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS detected (6 types)
Lead 90th percentile: 3 ppb (period starting 2025-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFOS: highest sample 11.2 ppt (2 of 6 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFOA: highest sample 9.5 ppt (5 of 6 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFBS: highest sample 6.4 ppt (2 of 6 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
PFPeA: highest sample 5.4 ppt (3 of 6 samples); no federal limit
PFHxA: highest sample 4.8 ppt (2 of 6 samples); no federal limit
PFHxS: highest sample 4.2 ppt (2 of 6 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
A PFAS detection is not a violation. Federal limits (4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS) apply to running annual averages, with compliance required by 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed extending the PFOA/PFOS deadline to 2031 and removing other PFAS limits; not final as of 2026-10-21.
Test your own tap
These are public records for whole systems. Your home's pipes, fixtures and any private well can change what you drink. A certified lab test or a hardness test strip gives you your own numbers. Then use our PFAS and lead filter selector to see which certifications to look for.
Common questions about Fairfield County water
Is tap water in Fairfield County safe to drink?
None of the 6 largest systems here have a health-based violation in EPA records since October 2021. Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County's most recent lead 90th percentile was below the lab detection limit (2026), below the 15 ppb action level. Public records can't guarantee what comes out of your tap, especially with older plumbing, so a home test is the surest check.
How hard is the water in Fairfield County?
Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County reports about 3.0 grains per gallon (51 mg/L), which is soft. For a 3-person home at 3 gpg, our softener calculator suggests a 24,000 grain unit as a starting point.
Is there PFAS in Fairfield County water?
5 of the 6 sampled systems listed here detected at least one PFAS in EPA's UCMR 5 testing, and 8 results were above the level of a federal limit in at least one sample. A detection isn't a violation: federal PFAS limits apply to running annual averages starting in 2029.
Which water system serves my address in Fairfield County?
Most homes are served by Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County or one of the other systems listed on this page, but service areas don't follow county lines. Your water bill names your provider, and its annual Consumer Confidence Report has the full test results.
Data as of October 21, 2026. Figures are copied from public records and combined with our own calculations; they can be out of date or wrong. Tapped Out isn't affiliated with any utility or the EPA. Written and reviewed by the Tapped Out team. How we calculate · All sources.