- No published independent PFAS test result exists for Waterloo sparkling water.
- Waterloo was not included in Consumer Reports' 2020 analysis of 47 bottled waters.
- Waterloo uses purified water, and purified waters tested lower than spring and mineral waters as a category.
- The brand describes multi-step filtration and said in 2024 it switched to a non-chemical alternative in production.
- Nutritionally Waterloo is zero calories, zero sodium, zero sweeteners and zero artificial ingredients.
- Liquid Death, AHA, Essentia and Smartwater also have no published independent PFAS data.
Why There Is No Waterloo PFAS Number
Consumer Reports tested 47 bottled waters in late 2020 — 35 still and 12 carbonated — measuring 30 different PFAS compounds. That single study is where essentially all publicly cited sparkling water PFAS figures come from:
| Brand | Total PFAS (ppt) | Tested? |
|---|---|---|
| Spindrift | 0.19 | Yes |
| San Pellegrino | 0.31 | Yes |
| Perrier | 1.10 | Yes |
| La Croix | 1.16 | Yes |
| Bubly | 2.24 | Yes |
| Polar | 6.41 | Yes |
| Topo Chico | 9.76 (since improved) | Yes |
| Waterloo | No published data | No |
| Liquid Death | No published data | No |
| AHA | No published data | No |
| Essentia | No published data | No |
Waterloo simply was not on the list. Neither were several other well-known brands. Independent testing of this kind is expensive, and no organization has published a comparable follow-up covering the brands that were missed. For the brands that were tested, see our full ranking of sparkling water without PFAS.
What We Actually Know About Waterloo’s Water
It uses purified water, not spring water
This is the most substantive thing we can say, and it is genuinely relevant. In the Consumer Reports data, a clear pattern emerged: purified waters generally tested lower than spring and mineral waters.
The reason is straightforward. 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, distillation, or similar treatment that removes most PFAS compounds along with everything else dissolved in the water. The counterintuitive result is that the more processed product is usually the cleaner one on this specific measure. Our guide to mineral vs purified water explains the processing difference.
Waterloo uses purified water. That places it in the category that performed better — but category performance is a probability, not a measurement of any particular brand.
The brand’s stated position
Waterloo’s own FAQ describes a multi-step filtration process intended to purify its locally sourced water and remove contaminants. In 2024, a company representative communicated to consumer health researchers that Waterloo had switched to a non-chemical alternative in its production process, in the context of a PFAS-related discussion.
This suggests the company has been paying attention to the issue. It is also, unavoidably, the company describing its own process — which is not the same as independent verification.
Nutritionally, it is a clean product
Separate from PFAS, Waterloo is zero calories, zero sodium, zero sweeteners, and zero artificial ingredients — the same profile as La Croix, Bubly, and AHA. On every measure that appears on a nutrition label, there is nothing to flag. Full tasting notes are in our Waterloo sparkling water review.
How to Decide Without the Number
Three reasonable positions, depending on what you weight:
Choose a brand that has been tested and scored well — Spindrift (0.19 ppt), San Pellegrino (0.31 ppt), or Sparkling Ice (none detected). You are trading flavor preference for verifiable information.
Waterloo’s purified water base puts it in the group that tested lower overall. If you like the flavors and find that reasoning sufficient, it is a defensible choice.
No bottled brand can give you that. Filter your own water with a certified system and carbonate at home — the only route where you control and can verify the input.
Options With Published Data
If the absence of a Waterloo number bothers you, these are the tested alternatives and the approach that removes the guesswork entirely. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases; it never affects our rankings.
Spindrift Sparkling Water
The closest flavor-forward equivalent to Waterloo with an actual published number. Real squeezed fruit, zero sodium.
Waterloo Variety Pack
Purified water base, zero sodium, zero sweeteners, and some of the most accurate fruit flavors in the category — particularly the grape.
SodaStream + PFAS Filter
A certified filter removes 94-99% of PFAS, and you carbonate at home. The only setup where you can actually verify what you are drinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Waterloo’s PFAS level?
There is no published independent measurement. Waterloo was not included in Consumer Reports’ 2020 testing, which is the source of the figures cited for La Croix, Perrier, Topo Chico, and others. No comparable independent test result for Waterloo has been published since.
Does that mean Waterloo has high PFAS?
No. It means the level is unverified. Waterloo uses purified water, and purified waters tested lower than spring and mineral waters as a category in the same analysis. That is a reason for cautious optimism, not a measurement.
Why wasn’t Waterloo tested?
Consumer Reports tested a selection of 47 products, not the entire market. Waterloo, Liquid Death, AHA, Essentia, and Smartwater were among the brands not included. Independent testing is expensive and no organization has published a comparable follow-up study.
Has Waterloo said anything about PFAS?
The brand’s FAQ describes a multi-step filtration process for its purified water. In 2024, a company representative indicated to consumer health researchers that Waterloo had switched to a non-chemical alternative in its production process during a PFAS-related discussion. Both are company statements rather than third-party verification.
Is Waterloo healthy otherwise?
Yes. Zero calories, zero sodium, zero sweeteners, zero artificial ingredients — the same nutritional profile as La Croix, Bubly, and AHA. The only open question is the PFAS figure, which applies to the whole category rather than Waterloo specifically.
Which sparkling water should I drink if I want published PFAS data?
Spindrift tested at 0.19 ppt, San Pellegrino at 0.31 ppt, and Sparkling Ice Black Raspberry showed no detectable PFAS. All three have published numbers from the Consumer Reports analysis.
Is Waterloo the same as La Croix?
They occupy the same category — purified, zero-calorie, zero-sodium flavored sparkling water — but La Croix has a published PFAS figure of 1.16 ppt while Waterloo has none. Waterloo is generally regarded as having more accurate fruit flavors; La Croix has wider availability.
Should I stop drinking Waterloo because there’s no PFAS data?
That depends on how you weigh unverified information. The FDA’s April 2025 survey of 197 bottled water products found none exceeding EPA limits, which is reassuring for the category. If you specifically want a published number, switch to a tested brand. If category-level reasoning is enough for you, Waterloo’s purified base is a reasonable position.
Related Reading
- Healthiest Sparkling Water for Daily Drinking — the broader guide covering sodium, additives, packaging and teeth
- Sparkling Water Without PFAS — All 12 Tested Brands Ranked
- Full Waterloo Sparkling Water Review — Flavors & Taste
- Bottled Water Brands & PFAS — Every Major Brand Ranked
- La Croix PFAS Testing — Full Investigation
- Is Topo Chico Bad for You? PFAS & Sodium
- Best Water Filters That Actually Remove PFAS
References & Sources
- Consumer Reports — bottled water PFAS testing (2020), 47 products, 30 PFAS compounds
- EPA — PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (April 2024)
- FDA — bottled water PFAS survey (April 2025), 197 products
- Environmental Working Group — 1 ppt precautionary guideline
The Bottom Line
Waterloo has no published PFAS number, and no amount of searching will produce one, because the test that generated everyone else’s figures did not include it. What can be said honestly: Waterloo uses purified water, purified waters tested lower than spring and mineral waters as a category, and the company has described filtration steps and a 2024 process change. That is meaningful context and it is not a measurement. If a verified number is what you need, Spindrift and San Pellegrino have one. If you like Waterloo and find the category reasoning sufficient, that is a defensible position. And if you want actual certainty rather than either, no bottled brand provides it — filtering your own water is the only option that does.
