- San Pellegrino tested lowest at 0.31 ppt PFAS — the only bottled water with both a published figure and a low one.
- Perrier tested at 1.10 ppt and Poland Spring at 1.66 ppt; Topo Chico was 9.76 ppt in 2020, now around 3.9 ppt.
- Fiji, Evian, Mountain Valley, Smartwater, Icelandic Glacial and Gerolsteiner have no published independent PFAS data.
- Glass and carton packaging avoid microplastic shedding entirely; plastic sheds more when warm.
- Purified waters generally tested lower for PFAS than spring waters, because reverse osmosis strips contaminants.
- The FDA's April 2025 survey of 197 bottled water products found none exceeding EPA limits.
Brands With Published PFAS Data
Consumer Reports tested 47 bottled waters in 2020, measuring 30 PFAS compounds. These are the results for still and mineral waters — the only bottled brands with independent published figures. Lower is better.
| Brand | Total PFAS (ppt) | Type | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Pellegrino | 0.31 | Mineral (glass) | Lowest tested |
| Perrier | 1.10 | Mineral | Above EWG’s 1 ppt guideline, well under EPA limit |
| Poland Spring | 1.66 | Spring | One of only two still waters over 1 ppt |
| Topo Chico | 9.76 → ~3.9 | Mineral | Improved after filtration upgrade |
| Mountain Valley, Evian, Fiji, Icelandic Glacial, Smartwater, Gerolsteiner, Boxed Water | No published data | Various | Untested, not verified clean |
The Safest Bottled Water Brands
1. San Pellegrino — Lowest Tested PFAS
The only bottled water in this list with both a published PFAS figure and a genuinely low one: 0.31 ppt. Italian natural mineral water at 1,109 mg/L TDS with 166mg calcium and 49mg magnesium per litre. Available in glass, which removes the microplastic question entirely. If you want safety backed by data rather than marketing, this is the pick.
2. Mountain Valley — Best Source Transparency (Still), With a Caveat
Bottled from a protected spring in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas since 1871, in glass, surrounded by 2,000 acres of protected forest with roughly 3,500 years of granite filtration. Independent testing lists it among waters with no detectable PFAS. Twice named “Best Tasting Water in the World.” Zero sodium, zero additives.
The caveat: a class action filed 11 August 2025 (Nadel v. Primo Water, S.D. Florida) alleges that July 2025 laboratory testing detected arsenic at 0.16 µg/L, uranium at 0.21 µg/L, bromoform at 0.15 µg/L and cadmium at 0.08 µg/L. All tested below the FDA’s enforceable limits, but arsenic, uranium and bromoform carry EPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goals of zero. The case concerns whether “free of pollutants” marketing is deceptive at four-to-eight-times premium pricing — not a safety violation. The allegations are unproven and litigation is ongoing. Full detail in our Mountain Valley PFAS and lawsuit breakdown.
3. Evian — Protected Alpine Aquifer
French spring water at 357 mg/L TDS, filtered naturally through Alpine glacial sand over roughly 15 years before bottling. The catchment area is legally protected from agriculture and development. European mineral water regulation is stricter on source purity than US bottled water rules. No published PFAS figure, and microplastics rate high — see our full Evian breakdown.
4. Gerolsteiner — Most Mineral-Rich
German mineral water at 2,488 mg/L TDS — 348mg calcium, 108mg magnesium, 1,816mg bicarbonate per litre. Glass bottles, and subject to Germany’s strict mineral water regulations, which require the source to be protected and the composition to be stable. No published PFAS data. See our mineral water ranking for the full analysis.
5. Perrier — Tested and Naturally Carbonated
456 mg/L TDS with 150mg calcium and just 9.6mg sodium per litre — the lowest sodium of the mineral waters. Tested at 1.10 ppt PFAS, above the precautionary 1 ppt guideline but well below the EPA’s enforceable 4 ppt limit. Full data in our Perrier PFAS investigation.
6. Acqua Panna — Lightest Still Mineral Water
Tuscan still spring water at 188 mg/L TDS with roughly 6.4mg sodium per litre. Available in glass. The choice if mineral-forward waters taste too heavy. See our Acqua Panna review.
7. Essentia — Tested at 0.2 ppt
Independent testing puts Essentia at 0.2 ppt total PFAS, among the lowest of any bottled water with a published figure. Three-stage purification — micron filtration, activated carbon, then reverse osmosis — brings TDS below 10 ppm before electrolytes are added back. Sold in plastic. The pH 9.5 alkaline claim is accurate but not a proven health benefit; see our Essentia breakdown.
8. Fiji — Naturally Filtered Artesian
Drawn from a confined artesian aquifer in Viti Levu, meaning the water is under pressure and sealed from surface contact until bottling. FDA sampling of a Fiji-sourced product showed PFOA and PFOS below the limit of quantification. Sold in plastic, and the subject of a January 2025 lawsuit alleging microplastics and BPA — see our full Fiji breakdown.
9. Icelandic Glacial — Pristine Source, Plastic Bottle
Sourced from the Ölfus Spring in Iceland, naturally alkaline at around pH 8.4, filtered through volcanic rock. Strong source story, but plastic packaging and no published PFAS testing.
10. Boxed Water — Lowest Packaging Impact
Purified water in a paper-based carton, which sidesteps both plastic microplastic shedding and glass weight. The water itself is purified municipal — no source story, but purified waters as a category tested lower for PFAS than spring waters. Independent testing lists it among waters with no detectable PFAS.
What Actually Makes Bottled Water Safe
Four factors, in rough order of how much they matter:
- Published PFAS data. A verified number under 1 ppt beats any marketing claim. Only a handful of bottled waters have one.
- Packaging. Glass and cartons avoid microplastic shedding entirely. Plastic sheds more when warm — which is why bottles left in a hot car are the single worst case. Read more on what happens when plastic bottles get warm.
- Source type. A named, protected spring or confined artesian aquifer is more transparent than “purified municipal.” But note the counterintuitive finding: purified waters generally tested lower for PFAS than spring waters, because reverse osmosis strips contaminants that spring bottling preserves.
- Regulatory environment. European mineral waters face stricter source-purity rules than US bottled water, which the FDA regulates as a food product.
How Worried Should You Actually Be?
Context worth holding onto: in April 2025, the FDA surveyed 197 bottled water products and found zero samples exceeding EPA limits. The category as a whole complies with enforceable standards.
The debate is about whether those standards are conservative enough. The EPA’s 2024 limit is 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS individually. The Environmental Working Group argues for 1 ppt as a precautionary threshold. Both positions are defensible, and where you land determines how much any of this matters to you.
The Mountain Valley case illustrates the same tension in a different form. Substances can sit below every enforceable limit while exceeding non-enforceable public health goals of zero — and reasonable people disagree about whether that gap should affect what a brand is allowed to claim.
Where to Buy
The safest picks across still, sparkling and glass. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases; it never affects our rankings.
S.Pellegrino (Glass)
The only bottled water with both a published PFAS figure and a genuinely low one. Glass bottles, 166mg calcium and 49mg magnesium per litre.
Essentia Ionized Water
0.2 ppt PFAS with three-stage RO purification to under 10 ppm TDS, and a published water quality report. Plastic bottles.
Gerolsteiner Sparkling
348mg calcium and 108mg magnesium per litre under Germany’s strict mineral water regulations. Glass bottles.
Acqua Panna (Glass)
Tuscan still spring water with light minerality and roughly 6.4mg sodium per litre. The soft, neutral option in glass.
Cheaper than bottled, and verifiable
A certified home filter removes 94–99% of PFAS at roughly $0.05 per litre, against $1.50–4.00 for bottled — and you can verify what you are drinking rather than trusting an untested brand. See our tested best water filter pitchers and under-sink PFAS filters, or our guide to choosing the right filter format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest bottled water brand?
Among brands with published lab data, San Pellegrino tested lowest at 0.31 ppt PFAS and is available in glass, with Essentia close behind at 0.2 ppt in plastic. For still water in glass, Mountain Valley offers a protected Arkansas source, though it faces an active class action over its purity marketing.
Which bottled water has the least PFAS?
Essentia at 0.2 ppt and San Pellegrino at 0.31 ppt are the lowest among bottled waters with published figures, followed by Perrier at 1.10 ppt and Poland Spring at 1.66 ppt. Fiji, Evian, Smartwater and Mountain Valley have no comprehensive published figure.
Is Mountain Valley Spring Water still a safe choice?
Independent testing lists it with no detectable PFAS, and glass packaging removes the microplastics question. However, a class action filed in August 2025 alleges July 2025 testing found arsenic, uranium, bromoform and cadmium — all below FDA enforceable limits but above zero-goal targets. The case concerns marketing claims rather than a safety violation, and the allegations are unproven.
Is glass or plastic bottled water safer?
Glass is generally safer. Plastic bottles can shed microplastics, particularly when heated or stored long-term. Glass and carton packaging avoid this entirely. Cartons also weigh less and have a lower shipping footprint.
Does bottled water have PFAS?
Some does. Consumer Reports found measurable PFAS in several popular brands in 2020. However, the FDA’s April 2025 survey of 197 bottled water products found none exceeding EPA limits, so the category complies with enforceable standards.
Is bottled water safer than tap water?
Not necessarily. US municipal tap water is tested more frequently and is subject to enforceable federal standards, while bottled water is regulated by the FDA as a food product. A certified home filter typically produces cleaner water than bottled at a fraction of the cost.
Why do spring waters test higher for PFAS than purified?
Spring water is bottled close to its natural state, so PFAS present in the aquifer travels into the bottle. Purified water goes through reverse osmosis or distillation, which strips most PFAS out. The less-processed product is, on this measure, the less filtered one.
Does European bottled water face stricter rules?
Yes, on source purity. European natural mineral waters like Evian, San Pellegrino and Gerolsteiner must come from a protected, officially recognised source with stable composition, and cannot be chemically treated. US bottled water is regulated by the FDA as a food product.
Related Reading
- Best Bottled Water to Drink — the broader ranking by taste, minerals and value
- Bottled Water Brands & PFAS — Every Major Brand Ranked
- Mountain Valley: PFAS Data & the 2025 Class Action
- Does Fiji Water Have PFAS?
- Does Evian Have PFAS?
- Does Essentia Water Have PFAS?
- Best Mineral Water to Drink — TDS and Minerals Compared
- Which PFAS Filter Format Is Right for You?
References & Sources
- Consumer Reports — bottled water PFAS testing (2020), 47 products, 30 PFAS compounds
- FDA — bottled water PFAS survey (April 2025), 197 products
- EPA — PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (April 2024); Maximum Contaminant Level Goals
- Environmental Working Group — 1 ppt precautionary guideline
- Nadel v. Primo Water Corporation et al — class action complaint, S.D. Florida, filed 11 August 2025
- Gerolsteiner, San Pellegrino, Perrier, Evian and Acqua Panna — official source mineral analyses
The Bottom Line
The honest ranking looks different from most “safest bottled water” lists, because most of those brands have never been tested. Essentia at 0.2 ppt and San Pellegrino at 0.31 ppt are the only bottled waters combining a published PFAS figure with a genuinely low one, and San Pellegrino comes in glass. Mountain Valley and Evian offer the strongest source transparency among still waters — though Mountain Valley now faces an unproven class action over its purity claims, and Evian’s microplastics rate high. Choose glass or carton over plastic, prefer brands with named protected sources, and treat “untested” as unknown rather than clean. And if safety is genuinely the priority rather than convenience, a certified home filter removes more PFAS than any brand switch and lets you verify the result.
