PFAS & Drinking Water FAQ
Service Authority Responds to New Federal Drinking Water Standards
UCMR5 Quarterly Report - February 2024
Service Authority Addresses Proposed PFAS Rules
Click on a topic below to view the answers.
What are perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)?
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of more than 6,000 manmade chemicals used in the manufacture of a wide variety of industrial and household products designed to resist heat, water, oil and stains. A wide variety of products are made with PFAS, including non-stick cookware, food packaging, personal care products and water-resistant apparel.
Four PFAS of note include perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HPFO-DA or GenX). In June 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new lifetime health advisories for the four compounds.
Although their use has been phased out in the United States, the fact that these chemicals are very stable means that they tend to hang around in the environment for a long time. There is national concern about these chemicals entering our surface and groundwater drinking water sources.
Is PFAS regulated in drinking water?
Yes. On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced final national primary drinking water standards for six types of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane-sulfonic acid (PFHxS), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX chemicals), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The standard also establishes a hazard index (HI) for a mixture of two or more of the following: PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS).
According to the EPA, public water systems have five years (by 2029) to implement solutions that reduce these PFAS if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed these MCLs. Fairfax Water will ensure that our water meets these standards..
Water utilities are passive receivers of PFAS compounds, which are used in firefighting foam, industrial processes, and consumer products. Most humans are exposed to PFAS through food and consumer products while drinking water makes up a small portion of their total exposure. Peer-reviewed studies show that exposure to elevated levels of PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes in humans.
Due to decades of use, PFAS are everywhere in the environment. Industrial sites might release PFAS into the water or air. Consumer and household products containing PFAS enter landfills and are washed down the drain. Because of their chemical composition, PFAS do not break down naturally and can be found throughout the environment in surface water, groundwater, air, and soil. They build up in the environment over time, eventually entering our bodies through food and drinking water.
Has PWCSA tested its drinking water for PFAS?
April 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final rule to limit polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances, known commonly as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” in drinking water.
Throughout 2024, the Service Authority is participating in EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5, (UCMR5) for its East and West water distribution systems. UCMR5 involves collecting and testing water samples to assess a list of unregulated contaminants that EPA selects for monitoring in public water systems. Subsequently, the EPA uses the collected data to develop regulatory policies that address emerging contaminants.
The first round of testing was completed in February, and the results of sampling from our East and West systems were below the proposed EPA limits for PFAS. Our staff will also collect samples from each system’s main entry points during May, August and November.
What actions are the EPA and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) taking regarding PFAS?
EPA
On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced final national primary drinking water standards for six types of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane-sulfonic acid (PFHxS), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX chemicals), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The standard also establishes a hazard index (HI) for a mixture of two or more of the following: PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS).
On March 14, 2023, the EPA announced its proposed national drinking water standards for 6 types of Poly-and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) including proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The proposed standard also includes establishing a hazard index for a combination of four other PFAS compounds. For more information about the proposed standards, please visit https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas
In June 2022, EPA released interim health advisory levels of 4.0 ppt for PFOA and 4.0 ppt for PFOS. Additionally, final health advisories were released of 2,000 ppt for PFBS and 10 ppt for GenX chemicals.
In February 2021, the EPA issued a final determination to regulate PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. The agency also proposed to require water utilities monitor for 29 PFAS compounds in drinking water. In April 2021, the agency announced the establishment of the EPA Council on PFAS to develop a national strategy to protect public health and make recommendations regarding PFAS.
In December 2021, EPA published the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5). UCMR 5 requires sample collection for 30 chemical contaminants between 2023 and 2025, using analytical methods developed by EPA and consensus organizations. Twenty-nine PFAS chemicals will be included in this study.
VDH
In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed two bills (HB 586 and HB 1257) that directed the VDH’s Office of Drinking Water (ODW) to study the occurrence, health effects and treatability of PFAS compounds in public drinking water and to adopt maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for some PFAS compounds.
What is PWCSA doing about PFAS?
The Service Authority purchases treated drinking water from Fairfax Water and the City of Manassas to meet the needs of Service Authority customers in Prince William County. The Service Authority remains fully confident in their ability to provide safe and reliable drinking water that meets regulatory treatment and distribution requirements. Click here for more information from Fairfax Water. https://www.fairfaxwater.org/news/fairfax-waters-statement-epas-final-pfas-standards-drinking-water
Like our regional and national water utility colleagues, the Service Authority supports the EPA’s efforts to limit exposure to PFAS compounds, which enter the environment through industrial and household uses.
The Service Authority has been collecting and testing samples from our water distribution system for PFAS compounds since 2021. The most recent round of testing was completed in February 2024, and all samples were found to be below the EPA’s newly announced limits for PFAS.
How does PFAS get into drinking water sources?
PFAS typically enters drinking water sources (lakes, rivers, wells, etc.) through storm water runoff and wastewater originating from facilities where PFAS chemicals were produced or used.
PFAS are slow to break down and using products with PFAS puts these chemicals into the environment, where, over time, they may end up in drinking water supplies. PFAS can also enter the environment as consumers wash and throw away products containing these chemicals and through bodily waste.
How can I limit my exposure to PFAS?
- Cook with stainless steel, cast-iron, glass, or ceramics. Try not to use nonstick cookware.
- Look for coats, hats, and boots labeled “water-resistant.” They are less likely to have PFAS than waterproof products.
- Avoid ordering food in grease-resistant wrappers or containers.
- Avoid carpets and upholstery treated to be stain or water-resistant; decline stain treatment.
- Ask manufacturers if their products have PFAS. These chemicals are often not listed. However, given that many PFAS cannot be measured yet, products cannot be confirmed “PFAS-free.”
If you are concerned about potential health effects from exposure to these PFAS above the health advisory level, EPA encourages you to contact your doctor or health care professional.
