COUNTY NEWS RELEASE
For the first time ever, national standards regarding forever chemicals in tap water are being rolled out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Collectively called PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, these chemicals have been used since the 1940s and are now found everywhere—in air, water, soil and blood. They are often called forever chemicals because it takes thousands of years for them to break down.
What is the source of these chemicals? PFAS are found in a wide variety of products, such as cookware, food packaging, contact lenses, clothing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and even dental floss. They are used for their oil and water repelling properties and their heat resistance.
“EPA is taking a signature step to protect public health by establishing legally enforceable levels for several PFAS known to occur individually and as a mixture in drinking water,” said Jennifer McLain in an EPA presentation on the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. McLain is the Director of the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water for EPA.
Among the new regulations, EPA is setting enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) at 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS, individually. This standard is intended to reduce exposure from PFAS in drinking water to the lowest levels that are feasible for effective implementation.
The Los Alamos County 2022 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report (also known as the Consumer Confidence Report) published by the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) described PFAS in drinking water for Los Alamos County. DPU tested for them in 2021 in cooperation with EPA UCMR (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule). Minimal amounts of PFAS were detected in Los Alamos drinking water supply wells. At that time, results ranged from 0.350 to 0.775 ppt which is well below the new MCL’s established by EPA.
“DPU’s PFAS sample results were low in Los Alamos County when we tested three years ago because our water source is deep underground,” said Clay Moseley, DPU’s Deputy Utility Manager of Gas, Water, and Sewer. “Chemicals in water supply are much more typical in distribution systems that draw water supplies from surface water or shallow groundwater sources, which we don’t do here.”
According to the EPA, reducing exposure to PFAS will save thousands of lives; prevent tens of thousands of serious illnesses, including cancers, liver disease, heart attacks and strokes; and reduce immune impacts and developmental impacts to pregnant women, children and babies.
EPA estimates the quantifiable health benefits of its new regulations to be $1.5 billion annually. This estimate considers the costs of illness, such as lost wages, medical bills and the value of lost lives.
Between 6% and 10% of the country’s 66,000 public drinking water systems may have to take action to reduce PFAS to meet the new standards at a cost of $1.5 billion annually, according to EPA estimates. The costs include water system monitoring, communicating with customers, and if necessary, either obtaining new/additional sources of water or installing and maintaining treatment technologies to reduce PFAS levels.
Implementation of the new standards will require public water systems to conduct monitoring for PFAS from 2024 to 2027 and include monitoring results in Consumer Confidence Reports starting in 2027. Starting in 2029, water providers that exceed MCLs must have PFAS-reducing solutions in place to bring levels down to new MCL standards. Public notification for MCL violations will be an ongoing requirement beginning in 2027.
To see the 2022 Drinking Water Quality Report from DPU, visit ladpu.com/CCR2022. The 2023 report will be published by July 1, 2024. Please keep in mind these reports are for a calendar year.