Short answer: the PFAS postcode map that Greenpeace published on 22 September 2026 shows how published measurements from drinking water companies compare, per four-digit postcode area, to the health-based guideline value of the RIVM. The colour on the map is not a measurement of your own kitchen tap. A value above that guideline value also doesn't automatically mean the drinking water exceeds the legal standard.
This article is an explanation of the news item, not a personal health assessment or a claim about the performance of a specific PureAqua system. Last fact-checked: 23 September 2026.
What did Greenpeace investigate?
Greenpeace combined measurement data from ten Dutch drinking water companies with information about where drinking water comes from. The analysis covers 183 locations and links the data to 4,083 areas that share the same first four postcode digits. According to Greenpeace's methodological explanation, roughly 36% of the population lived in a red or dark red area: the linked average measurements there were above 4.4 nanograms per litre, expressed in PFOA equivalents. This says something about the area-level data used, not about an individual tap measurement.
What's the difference between the guideline value and the legal standard?
The RIVM advises a health-based guideline value of 4.4 ng/L PFOA equivalents (PEQ). This counts various PFAS according to their relative harmfulness. The legal quality requirement is 100 ng/L for the sum of twenty PFAS. That's a different way of measuring and adding up. You can't therefore directly compare the two figures as if they were the same yardstick. According to the RIVM, Dutch drinking water meets the legal requirement.
The RIVM also calculated that average PFAS intake via drinking water alone stays below the health-based limit for total intake. Food is also a source of PFAS. A result above the drinking water guideline value is therefore a reason to properly understand the data and take pollution at the source seriously, not to conclude without further context that your tap water is legally unsafe.
How do you read your postcode result?
- Red or dark red: the linked average value is above the RIVM guideline value of 4.4 ng/L PEQ.
- Orange: this can mean a value between 2.2 and 4.4 ng/L PEQ, but also uncertainty about the origin or blending of the water supplied.
- Green: the linked value is below 2.2 ng/L PEQ. This is not a general guarantee that every substance is absent at every moment.
The measurements behind the map are usually averages over a period of roughly one to one and a half years, up to and including June 2026. Water can come from multiple production locations, and postcode boundaries don't always coincide with supply areas. So also check the current water quality information from your drinking water company. Want to look up your postcode area? Use the Greenpeace postcode checker. The checker asks for personal details, including name and email address. Also read the explanation of the data used and its limitations.
Does a PFAS filter help?
That depends on which PFAS substances you mean, the water you use, the filtration technique, the exact configuration and the maintenance. The American environmental authority EPA describes activated carbon, ion exchange and reverse osmosis, among others, as techniques that can reduce certain PFAS. A generic name for a technique or a certification standard is not yet proof that every device removes all PFAS, including TFA, in your situation. Look at the substances tested, the exact model and the test conditions. Replace filters according to the instructions.
That's why we don't make a claim like 'PFAS-free' here, and we don't state a reduction percentage for a PureAqua product without matching evidence for that exact system and that substance. Good advice starts with your question and the available measurement data, not with a single standard answer. Also read how to assess water filter tests and certifications.
What can you do now?
- Read the RIVM's explanation of the guideline value, the legal requirement and exposure.
- Check which measurement data and supply information your drinking water company has available for your address.
- When considering a filter, always ask for evidence for the specific substance, the exact system configuration and the maintenance costs.
Want to calmly discuss your result or a water analysis with someone? Get in touch with PureAqua. We'll help you ask the right questions and point out where data or product evidence is still missing.
Sources: Greenpeace, 22 September 2026; methodological explanation; RIVM, PFAS in drinking water; EPA, PFAS filter certification. This information may change as new measurements or insights become available.
