Does Waterloo Sparkling Water Have PFAS?

What Are PFAS and Why Are They in the Spotlight?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of several thousand man-made chemicals notable for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. They have been used in firefighting foams, stain-resistant fabrics, nonstick cookware, and certain food packaging materials. Because of their strong chemical bonds, PFAS degrade very slowly in the environment, leading researchers to call them “forever chemicals.”

These compounds have become a topic of heightened focus due to their potential health implications. Several studies funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences have found that certain PFAS may contribute to adverse health outcomes, including reductions in birthweight and impacts on immune system function. The National Toxicology Program concluded that two specific PFAS—PFOA and PFOS—can suppress the antibody response in humans.

In addition to health concerns, PFAS grab headlines because they are so prevalent. They can be found in water sources, soil, air, and various consumer goods. Regulatory agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency are drafting and refining guidelines aimed at limiting PFAS contamination in drinking water. Modern testing techniques have revealed PFAS in municipal water supplies, wells near industrial sites, and even in remote areas far from factories. As public awareness grows, consumers increasingly demand clarity about the PFAS content in everyday products, including seemingly benign items like sparkling water.

How Could PFAS End Up in Sparkling Water?

Many of us assume sparkling water is just regular water plus carbonation, but PFAS can still enter the equation if contamination occurs anywhere along the supply chain. Several pathways can introduce these chemicals into canned or bottled beverages.

Contaminated water sources

If the water used to produce sparkling beverages draws from wells or municipal systems with measurable PFAS, purification steps must be especially thorough to remove these substances. Cities nationwide have discovered PFAS levels in their water. For instance, Waterloo in Iowa found PFAS in one well, though concentrations were below the new EPA thresholds. This underscores how invisible PFAS can be in water unless rigorous testing is performed.

Manufacturing or packaging equipment

PFAS are used in a variety of industrial applications. If a beverage company’s production facilities include certain coatings, lubricants, or hoses containing PFAS, these chemicals could leach into water during processing. Though less common than direct water contamination, such scenarios have occurred in other industries involving fluid transfer.

Can liners and food-grade coatings

Metal cans and bottle caps often include polymer linings designed to prevent corrosion and preserve flavor. Some of these coatings historically contained PFAS-related substances. While regulations and industry standards have shifted away from PFAS use, legacy materials might still be in circulation. Transitioning to entirely PFAS-free coatings can be technically challenging, so any brand using older can liners could harbor low-level contamination.

Has Waterloo Sparkling Water Been Tested for PFAS?

Waterloo Sparkling Water has not publicly released PFAS testing data, nor is such information readily found on the brand’s website. The company states that its products meet or exceed relevant drinking water regulations, but no direct mention of PFAS levels appears in its published materials. Unlike some municipalities required to test for PFAS, private beverage manufacturers may not be legally obligated to conduct or disclose such results, depending on state and federal guidelines.

According to the EPA, PFAS in water can be difficult to detect without specialized methods. Tests that measure PFAS at extremely low concentrations must be carefully conducted and interpreted. If Waterloo has performed such tests internally, results are not publicly available for independent verification.

It is also worth noting that meeting federal safety requirements does not automatically mean an absence of PFAS. The new allowable limit for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water is 4 parts per trillion (ppt). Some water sources might have PFAS levels below that threshold, thus satisfying EPA guidelines, yet still contain measurable amounts. Until Waterloo Sparkling Water or an independent entity publishes data, consumers cannot get a definitive answer on how much, if any, PFAS might be in a typical can.

What Do Independent or Public Studies Say?

At this time, we have not found large-scale, peer-reviewed studies that specifically test Waterloo Sparkling Water for PFAS. Because PFAS testing can be expensive and is more often carried out on municipal water supplies, the city of Waterloo, Iowa, has far clearer data on its wells than any brand-named sparkling water product.

Recent city-level tests revealed one south-side well with 2.6 ppt of PFOS, a level below the EPA’s current limit of 4 ppt. According to local officials, the city decided to stop drawing from that well, partly to reassure residents. These findings apply to municipal water rather than bottled or canned beverages. Nonetheless, they illustrate that PFAS can be found even at levels approaching regulatory thresholds.

Other sparkling water brands have occasionally been tested by consumer advocacy organizations, and some results revealed detectable PFAS. However, the sampling is inconsistent, and many companies do not publish their own PFAS analyses. Independent testing is a useful check on brand claims but remains sporadic. Without brand-specific transparency, it is challenging to compare one sparkling water label directly to another.

We also know that PFAS exposure is widespread nationwide. The CDC’s biomonitoring research indicates that most Americans have been exposed, largely through water, household products, or consumption of foods that made contact with PFAS-treated items. This underscores the need for consistent, publicly available product testing data across the food and beverage industry.

Has Waterloo Made a Statement About PFAS?

We have not seen a formal press release or corporate announcement from Waterloo Sparkling Water regarding PFAS concerns. Their consumer-facing materials emphasize quality and compliance with federal and state regulations, but none directly addresses whether the brand has undertaken PFAS testing. This contrasts with some companies that explicitly share results from expanded contaminant panels, sometimes to reassure customers about known or emerging substances.

From a policy standpoint, beverage makers are not necessarily required to report PFAS data unless these chemicals exceed certain thresholds in the local water supply. Even then, oversight can vary by jurisdiction. Notably, agencies like the EPA are increasingly pushing for more stringent guidelines. As these regulations mature, beverage producers might become subject to stricter disclosure standards or mandated testing.

For now, Waterloo’s general safety statements could be accurate in a conventional sense—meeting guidelines for regulated contaminants that have set legal limits. But PFAS often reside in a regulatory gray area. We will continue to watch for brand updates, especially if new federal or state rules require broader testing. Transparency often hinges on consumer pressure combined with evolving laws around PFAS monitoring.

How Does Waterloo Compare to Other Sparkling Water Brands?

Waterloo is not unique in declining to publish official PFAS test data—many sparkling water brands do not openly release this information. In the absence of universal testing mandates, few companies volunteer PFAS analyses, even as public curiosity grows.

When independent labs or advocacy groups have conducted tests on certain brands, some have shown trace amounts of PFAS, while others were reportedly free of detectable levels. For instance, organizations have tested multiple flavored sparkling waters, such as Topo Chico, in the past. Though Topo Chico faced scrutiny over test results showing elevated PFAS, other brands tested at lower or no detectable levels. Since each product’s supply chain differs, even brands drawing from the same region can show variance in PFAS concentration.

Without standardized disclosures across the industry, comparisons rely heavily on anecdotal or fragmented data. A brand’s claim that it meets federal and state standards is a starting point but does not necessarily provide clarity on PFAS levels. For a more comprehensive perspective on PFAS in carbonated beverages, consumers may benefit from referencing independent testing or searching official consumer reports. Our own coverage of similar issues can be found in resources like pfas in sparkling water.

Are PFAS Regulated in Beverages Like Waterloo?

In the United States, PFAS regulation has historically centered on drinking water rather than packaged beverages. The EPA’s new standards—4 ppt for both PFOA and PFOS—apply to public water systems. Many states, however, are in the process of setting their own rules, which may be more stringent. For privately bottled products, federal regulations under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sometimes come into play, but PFAS oversight remains less comprehensive than for municipal water.

If a beverage company sources its water from a regulated supply—municipal or otherwise—that already meets EPA or state standards, the brand can typically claim compliance. That does not guarantee that PFAS are absent; it only means they are below identified thresholds.

Because PFAS are such a pervasive environmental problem, potential contamination can occur at multiple points in production. Regulators face the challenge of setting uniform guidelines in a system that splits jurisdiction among the EPA, FDA, and various state agencies. Going forward, the trend is toward more robust monitoring. If additional federal rules specify PFAS limits for bottled beverages, Waterloo and its peers may need to provide formal test results or implement stronger filtration methods. You can learn more about broad PFAS responses at pfas contamination map or check prospective regulatory changes through official EPA announcements.

Can You Remove PFAS From Canned or Bottled Drinks?

Once a beverage is sealed in a can or bottle, options for removing PFAS are limited. Traditional home-based approaches, such as activated carbon filters or reverse osmosis systems, generally apply to tap water before ingestion. Attempting to filter a carbonated beverage after opening it is neither practical nor guaranteed to remove contaminants effectively.

Some consumers wonder if pouring sparkling water through a funnel filter might help. In reality, most filters designed for PFAS removal—like activated carbon or reverse osmosis—work best under controlled conditions and require water to be at a consistent flow and pressure. It is not comparable to the kind of straightforward filtration used for tap water. For a deeper look at in-home filtration, consider exploring pfas water filter or does reverse osmosis remove pfas.

Manufacturers can remove PFAS at the production level using advanced treatment technologies, such as high-pressure membranes or specialized carbon filtering. However, these solutions are costly. Many companies do not install such systems unless compelled by regulatory demands or consumer expectations. Because PFAS are not always mandated as a “must-test” contaminant, and many remain below actionable thresholds, producers may not see a business imperative to invest in extensive PFAS removal.

What Should Consumers Look for When Choosing PFAS-Free Drinks?

When trying to pick a sparkling water that is less likely to contain PFAS, we recommend focusing on transparency from the brand as well as third-party testing. Here are some practical considerations:

• Research publicly available test results. Sometimes nonprofits or watchdog groups publish data comparing multiple beverage brands.

• Look for official statements. Brands that invest in extra contaminant testing often tout it on their websites or product labels.

• Check local water reports if the product sources from a municipal supply. Even if a bottler is not required to test for PFAS, the city or state might publish relevant data.

• Review consumer advocacy websites. Independent labs occasionally release PFAS test results for various bottled waters and carbonated beverages.

• Consider your personal tolerance for risk. Even if a product meets regulatory standards, trace PFAS might still be present, just under the allowable threshold.

If you have heightened concerns about PFAS, using advanced home filtration systems for tap water is one reliable way to reduce daily exposure. Methods include carbon filtration, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis. Additional insights on these technologies can be found at pfas remediation or pfas treatment technologies. For those exploring a broader overview, visiting what is pfas may also offer helpful context.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are PFAS harmful to human health?

Research indicates that some PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS, may cause adverse health effects, such as immune system suppression and altered cholesterol levels. Ongoing studies supported by NIEHS and the National Toxicology Program seek to clarify the extent of these potential harms, especially at lower doses.

Is Waterloo Sparkling Water different from the city of Waterloo’s water supply?

Yes. While they share the same name, the city of Waterloo’s public water system and Waterloo Sparkling Water brand do not appear to be the same entity. City tests detect PFAS in municipal wells, but that does not directly confirm the presence of these chemicals in the brand’s sparkling water.

What does “meeting federal and state requirements” mean regarding PFAS?

Most water regulations base compliance on recognized contaminants, including common chemicals like lead and chlorine byproducts. PFAS guidelines are relatively new and might not be fully integrated. Meeting existing standards means staying within allowable limits, which can still permit trace PFAS levels under certain thresholds.

Are there any legal options if I have been harmed by PFAS exposure?

Yes. Individuals who believe they have been severely affected by PFAS contamination can explore legal avenues. Obtaining a free case review to determine potential eligibility for compensation may be an important step. For details, see the PFAS Lawsuit page.

Are there additional measures for reducing PFAS intake if I suspect beverage contamination?

Given the difficulty of filtering carbonated beverages at home, consider sourcing water from a tested tap supply that you filter yourself. You can also look into brands that openly publish PFAS test results. Consulting resources like pfas in drinking water can help you better gauge your overall exposure.