Is Arrowhead Bottled Water Safe? PFAS + Contaminant Testing Results (2026)
BlueTriton Brands brand. Drought source disputes + no published PFAS testing.
Quick answer
Arrowhead is spring water from BlueTriton Brands, bottled at Multiple California springs. PFAS testing status: No public PFAS testing available. KnowYourExposure rates it D - Drought source disputes + no published PFAS testing. 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
- D (Drought source disputes + no published PFAS testing)
- PFAS testing
- No public PFAS testing available
- Water type
- spring
- Bottled at
- Multiple California springs
- Parent company
- BlueTriton Brands
What we know about PFAS in Arrowhead
Arrowhead does not publish independent PFAS test results, and Consumer Reports did not test Arrowhead in its 2020 panel. Arrowhead sources from California springs that have faced significant drought scrutiny and source-rights litigation. Without published PFAS data, we cannot rate this brand higher than D.
Packaging and microplastics
PET plastic. BlueTriton (parent of Poland Spring, Arrowhead, Deer Park, Zephyrhills, Ozarka) has been a frequent target of plastic-pollution litigation.
Known issues, recalls & lawsuits
- California State Water Board ordered Nestlé/BlueTriton to stop overdrawing from San Bernardino source (2021)
- No independent PFAS testing published
- Multiple lawsuits over groundwater extraction during California drought
Safer alternatives to Arrowhead
- Install a reverse osmosis system - California tap is heavily monitored, RO removes PFAS
- A Clearly Filtered pitcher is third-party tested for PFAS removal
- For mineral water taste, San Pellegrino or Mountain Valley publish water quality data
- Refillable bottle + tap filter = no plastic, no source-rights ethics issues
Brands to compare: Crystal Geyser (rated D), Poland Spring (rated D).
Frequently asked questions
- Does Arrowhead contain PFAS?
- Arrowhead does not publish independent PFAS test results, and Consumer Reports did not test Arrowhead in its 2020 panel. Arrowhead sources from California springs that have faced significant drought scrutiny and source-rights litigation. Without published PFAS data, we cannot rate this brand higher than D.
- Where is Arrowhead bottled?
- Arrowhead is bottled at Multiple California springs. The parent company is BlueTriton Brands.
- Is Arrowhead safer than tap water?
- Not necessarily. Arrowhead comes from a specific source, but most US tap water is held to similar EPA monitoring requirements. A certified home filter removes the same contaminants without the plastic packaging.
- What's the safest alternative to Arrowhead?
- 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 Arrowhead been recalled?
- Yes – known issues include: California State Water Board ordered Nestlé/BlueTriton to stop overdrawing from San Bernardino source (2021); No independent PFAS testing published.