{"id":7022,"date":"2024-06-11T13:41:59","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T18:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ariescleantech.com\/?p=7022"},"modified":"2024-06-11T13:40:56","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T18:40:56","slug":"article-nearly-19-of-water-systems-tested-in-pa-contain-pfas-levels-above-new-epa-standards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ariescleantech.com\/article-nearly-19-of-water-systems-tested-in-pa-contain-pfas-levels-above-new-epa-standards\/","title":{"rendered":"ARTICLE: 19% of PA Water Systems Exceed New EPA PFAS Standards"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Zo\u00eb Read<\/strong><\/p>\n

Public water providers across the U.S. are grappling with\u00a0new federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations<\/a>\u00a0that require them to test their drinking water for toxic PFAS, and reduce the so-called \u201cforever chemicals<\/a>\u201d to almost zero over the next five years.<\/p>\n

The goal is to address increasing concerns about PFAS, a large class of chemicals found in hundreds of everyday products, such as nonstick cookware and waterproof clothing, as well as\u00a0firefighting foam<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0consequences of exposure to PFAS<\/a>\u00a0are long-lasting \u2014 the compounds can stay in the environment, and the human bloodstream, for years. The chemicals have been linked to some cancers, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, developmental delays in children and other health conditions.<\/p>\n

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Public water providers in Pennsylvania recently completed PFAS testing to\u00a0meet the state\u2019s own requirements<\/a>\u00a0that were implemented last year to tackle the chemicals.<\/p>\n

Providers serving more than 350 people were required in January to start testing their drinking water for PFAS. Nearly 19% of the water systems tested statewide between January and March of 2024 submitted water samples that contained PFAS levels above the new federal regulations, according to newly published data of 1,059 water systems analyzed by WHYY News.<\/p>\n

More than 2.5% \u2014 or 27 of these water systems \u2014 submitted water samples that contained PFAS at levels that fail to meet the state\u2019s own regulations, which allow for higher levels of the chemicals in drinking water.<\/p>\n

These\u00a0water systems<\/a>\u00a0can be publicly or privately owned, and are operated by investor-owned utilities, municipalities, small communities, schools and businesses. Larger water providers may operate multiple water systems for their customers in various counties.<\/p>\n

A majority of the water systems with high levels of PFAS are run by small municipalities or communities. Three water systems reported PFAS levels above an unenforceable health advisory providers relied on for years before state and federal regulations were enacted.<\/p>\n

The results of the recent testing are not entirely surprising, said Chuck Powley of PFAS Solutions in New Castle, Delaware, a nonprofit organization that researches the best methods for\u00a0testing and treating PFAS<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese forever chemicals are just about everywhere, and it\u2019s hard not to find them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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PA.\u2019s Highest Levels of PFAS Contamination<\/h3>\n

In Pennsylvania, the most significant PFAS contamination was found at the Brookside Village Mobile Home Park in Berwick, Columbia County, where PFAS levels ranged from 200 to 2,100 parts per trillion. The highest level is more than 500 times the new federal regulations, and more than 100 times the new state regulations.<\/p>\n

\u201cParts of Pennsylvania that were in the thousands caught my attention,\u201d Powley said. \u201cAnd, those communities would be well advised to take some immediate action, provide bottled water, install home filtration systems.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though the EPA states no level of PFAS is safe, the agency has set maximum contaminant levels, or MCLs, for two types of PFAS \u2014\u00a0PFOA and PFOS<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 at 4 parts per trillion. The agency said it\u2019s the lowest possible level it can enforce, based on the ability to reliably measure and remove these contaminants from drinking water.<\/p>\n

The federal MCLs are much lower, and more restrictive, than Pennsylvania\u2019s regulations, which set an MCL of 14 parts per trillion for PFOA and 18 parts per trillion for PFOS.<\/p>\n

For years, the EPA set a non-enforceable health advisory of 70 parts per trillion for PFAS in drinking water that providers could use as guidance, if they chose. The guidance was reduced to almost zero parts per trillion in 2022 after the EPA published a finding that the chemicals are much more dangerous than previously understood.<\/p>\n

A representative of Brookside Village said water filtration devices will be installed on residents\u2019 kitchen faucets.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrookside Village is working cooperatively with DEP and following established and recommended protocols for additional testing and monitoring,\u201d a spokesperson said in an email.<\/p>\n

In the Philadelphia region, some of the highest PFAS levels were in Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties. All three counties have a\u00a0history of high PFAS levels<\/a>, particularly in the Horsham and Warminster communities, where firefighting foam historically was used at military bases.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at drinking water systems in the Philly region that reported PFAS levels exceeding state requirements.<\/p>\n

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PFAS in Montgomery County<\/h3>\n