PFOS and PFOA in Our Tap Water?

Common Water Chemical Threats

PFOS and PFOA are the most common and persistent chemicals found in drinking water. They are known to be toxic and can cause a variety of health problems, such as immune system suppression, reproductive issues, and cancer. These chemicals have been used for decades in firefighting foam and industrial coatings and are found in many locations across the country. The toxins can persist for years in the environment and are difficult to break down. PFOS and PFOA can be found in drinking water, in the air, and on food.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set health advisory levels of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for both PFOS and PFOA. In order to be protected from these toxic chemicals, it is recommended that people drink only bottled water or use other methods of filtration such as GAC or reverse osmosis filters. Using boiling water to purify your tap water is not recommended as this will concentrate the contaminant.

Surveying Drinking Water Across the Country

In the fall of 2015, the USGS surveyed drinking water for PFAS in public and private wells and found them to be widespread throughout the United States. This study represents the first time that anyone has compared drinking water samples for PFAS from both urban and rural areas. The results show that urban drinking water is more likely to contain PFAS than rural drinking water. This finding is consistent with other research showing that human exposure to PFAS is mainly from groundwater sources in urban areas.

Despite the toxicity of PFAS, the companies that produced them signed on to a voluntary Stewardship Program in 2006. This agreement required the eight manufacturers to reduce their facility emissions and product content levels by 95 percent by 2010 and eliminate the chemicals completely by 2015. The companies are still producing these products today, but have since moved to a non-PFAS alternative.

The EPA is evaluating PFAS under the Drinking Water Act’s regulatory determination process. It is reviewing all new scientific information including the ATSDR report. In addition, the EPA is continuing to work with affected communities to help them identify and respond to drinking water contamination from PFAS.

EPA's New Water Mission

The EPA is also required to review and develop a list of contaminants known as the Candidate Contaminant List (CCL) every five years. This list is used to set Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for contaminants that are of concern based on their health effects, prevalence in PWSs, and opportunities for exposure reduction. Currently, PFOS and PFOA are on the CCL. As part of this review process, EPA will consult with the public on the development of a draft MCL for these compounds. This consultation process will begin in 2022.

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