Drinking water quality in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
PFAS in drinking water
The total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was last measured at 0.0534 µg/L. The EU limit is 0.1 µg/L, so this water is at 53 % of the limit. (30 June 2026)
The four most harmful PFAS add up to 0.0262 µg/L. That is 6.6 times the health limit of 0.004 µg/L that Sweden made law in 2026. Germany will set a similar limit in 2028.
One of these four, PFOA, is classified as causing cancer in humans by the WHO's cancer research agency (IARC).
Substances too small to measure count as 0, so the real total may be higher.
20 PFAS (see each substance)
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) | 0.0172 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorohexanoïque (PFHXA) | 0.0085 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorobutanoïque (PFBA) | 0.0076 µg/L |
| Acide sulfonique de perfluorooctane (PFOS) | 0.0075 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoropentanoïque (PFPEA) | 0.0071 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-octanoïque (PFOA) | 0.0015 µg/L |
| Acide sulfonique de perfluorobutane (PFBS) | 0.0015 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoroheptanoïque (PFHPA) | 0.0013 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoropentane sulfonique (PFPS) | 0.0012 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro undecanoïque (PFUnA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro tridecanoique (PFTrDA) | <0,0020 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro tridecane sulfonique (PFTrDS) | <0,005 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro undecane sulfonique (PFUnDS) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-nonanoïque (PFNA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoroheptane sulfonique (PFHpS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorononane sulfonique (PFNS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorododécane sulfonique (PFDoDS) | <0,0020 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorododécanoique (PFDoDA) | <0,0010 µg/L |
| Acide perfluoro-decanoïque (PFDA) | <0,001 µg/L |
| Acide perfluorodecane sulfonique (PFDS) | <0,0010 µg/L |
Water report for Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
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Official assessment
The latest official test passed all quality requirements.
„L’eau produite était, au moment du prélèvement, conforme aux exigences bactériologiques et aux limites de qualité physico-chimiques. Toutefois, le calcul de l'équilibre calco-carbonique selon la méthode Legrand et Poirier indiquait que l'eau était légèrement agressive.“
Show all 21 official measurements
| Parameter | Value | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 21.3 mg/L | ≤ 50 mg/L | within limit |
| Nitrite | <0,01 mg/L | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | within limit |
| Lead | <1 µg/L | ≤ 10 µg/L | within limit |
| Copper | 0.022 mg/L | ≤ 2 mg/L | within limit |
| Nickel | <2 µg/L | ≤ 20 µg/L | within limit |
| Arsenic | <0,25 µg/L | ≤ 10 µg/L | within limit |
| Cadmium | <0,025 µg/L | ≤ 5 µg/L | within limit |
| Chromium | <1,0 µg/L | ≤ 50 µg/L | within limit |
| Uranium | <0,10 µg/L | ≤ 30 µg/L | within limit |
| Fluoride | <0,050 mg/L | ≤ 1.5 mg/L | within limit |
| Escherichia coli | <1 n/(100mL) | ≤ 0 mL) | within limit |
| Enterococci | <1 n/(100mL) | ≤ 0 mL) | within limit |
| Coliform bacteria | <1 n/(100mL) | ≤ 0 mL) | within limit |
| pH | 8.1 unité pH | 6.5–9.5 pH | within limit |
| Water hardness | 13.2 °f | no limit | informational |
| Electrical conductivity | 353 µS/cm | 200–1,100 µS/cm | within limit |
| Chloride | 30 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within limit |
| Sulphate | 10 mg/L | ≤ 250 mg/L | within limit |
| Sodium | 16.9 mg/L | ≤ 200 mg/L | within limit |
| Iron | 2.1 µg/L | ≤ 200 µg/L | within limit |
| Turbidity | 0.35 NFU | ≤ 2 NFU | within limit |
Frequently asked questions
Is tap water in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin safe to drink?
Yes. The latest official test (30 June 2026) checked the tap water in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin and it passed every requirement.
How high are PFAS levels in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin's drinking water?
The total of 20 PFAS ("forever chemicals") was last measured at 0.0534 µg/L. The EU limit is 0.1 µg/L, so this water is at 53 % of the limit. (below the EU limit)
Does the water in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin also meet the strictest limits in Europe?
No. The four most harmful PFAS add up to 0.0262 µg/L. That is 6.6 times the health limit of 0.004 µg/L that Sweden made law in 2026. The water still passes the current EU limit (0.1 µg/L for the total of 20 PFAS).
How hard is the water in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin?
The water hardness in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is 13.2 °f (soft). This mainly matters for household appliances and detergent dosing, not for health.
Where does this data come from?
All values come from official publications: Hub'eau, Qualité de l'eau potable (Ministère de la Santé / OFB / BRGM). Retrieved on 28 August 2026.
Data source
- Hub'eau, Qualité de l'eau potable (Ministère de la Santé / OFB / BRGM)
- https://hubeau.eaufrance.fr/api/v1/qualite_eau_potable/resultats_dis?code_commune=50129
- License
- Licence Ouverte / Open Licence (Etalab)
- Retrieved
- 28 August 2026
- Supply networks
- HAMEAU MESNAGE, DIVETTE, TOURLAVILLE EST, TOURLAVILLE OUEST, TRAISNELLERIE, BENECERE, ASSELINERIE, ACHAT DOUVE ET DIVETTE
This site is a data project, not an official source. If in doubt, check with your water supplier or local authority.