Is Aquafina Bottled Water Safe? PFAS + Contaminant Testing Results (2026)
PepsiCo brand. Purified tap water with no published PFAS test data.
Quick answer
Aquafina is purified water from PepsiCo, bottled at Multiple US municipal sources (purified tap). PFAS testing status: No public PFAS testing available. KnowYourExposure rates it C - Purified tap water with no published PFAS test data. No bottled water is a reliable long-term PFAS fix: a certified reverse-osmosis or NSF 53 filter removes PFAS from any tap or bottled source for a fraction of the cost.
How we rate: we report published third-party testing, primarily Consumer Reports' 2020 bottled water PFAS investigation, plus brand-published water quality reports. We do not test products ourselves, and where no independent PFAS testing exists we say so rather than estimate.
Quick facts
- Trust rating
- C (Purified tap water with no published PFAS test data)
- PFAS testing
- No public PFAS testing available
- Water type
- purified
- Bottled at
- Multiple US municipal sources (purified tap)
- Parent company
- PepsiCo
What we know about PFAS in Aquafina
Aquafina is purified municipal tap water that goes through PepsiCo's "HydRO-7" reverse osmosis process. Reverse osmosis is effective at removing PFAS, so finished Aquafina is likely low in PFAS - but PepsiCo does not publish independent PFAS test results, and Consumer Reports did not include Aquafina in its 2020 PFAS panel. The source water quality varies by bottling plant location.
Packaging and microplastics
PET plastic bottles. PepsiCo announced plans to reduce virgin plastic but Aquafina remains in single-use PET. Microplastic shedding from PET caps documented in 2018 SUNY study.
Known issues, recalls & lawsuits
- 2007 PepsiCo agreed to clarify "P.W.S." on label means "Public Water Source" after consumer pressure
- No independent PFAS testing has been published
- Source water quality differs across 14+ US bottling plants
Safer alternatives to Aquafina
- Skip the markup: install a $200 RO system and get the same purified water at home
- A Brita Elite or ZeroWater pitcher reduces most municipal contaminants for a fraction of the cost
- Refillable glass or steel bottle with filtered tap = same purity, no plastic
- If buying bottled, choose brands that publish third-party water quality reports
Brands to compare: Dasani (rated C), Smartwater (rated C).
Frequently asked questions
- Does Aquafina contain PFAS?
- Aquafina is purified municipal tap water that goes through PepsiCo's "HydRO-7" reverse osmosis process. Reverse osmosis is effective at removing PFAS, so finished Aquafina is likely low in PFAS - but PepsiCo does not publish independent PFAS test results, and Consumer Reports did not include Aquafina in its 2020 PFAS panel. The source water quality varies by bottling plant location.
- Where is Aquafina bottled?
- Aquafina is bottled at Multiple US municipal sources (purified tap). The parent company is PepsiCo.
- Is Aquafina safer than tap water?
- Not necessarily. Aquafina is purified municipal tap water – the same source as your home tap, just filtered. A home reverse osmosis system produces equivalent water for $0.05/gallon.
- What's the safest alternative to Aquafina?
- Mountain Valley Spring Water consistently tests clean for PFAS and is bottled in glass. For everyday use, a Clearly Filtered or AquaTru reverse osmosis system removes 99% of PFAS from any tap source for a fraction of the cost.
- Has Aquafina been recalled?
- Yes – known issues include: 2007 PepsiCo agreed to clarify "P.W.S." on label means "Public Water Source" after consumer pressure; No independent PFAS testing has been published.