NGWA’s monthly trade publication, Water Well Journal®, published a feature article, “PFAS Roundtable,” in its April issue containing advice from experts on how to work with this emerging class of contaminants.
Interviewed are a treatment system practitioner, water well contractor, regulator, and our government affairs director. They discuss advice to provide those asking questions about PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), maintenance tips for residential well and municipality owners, misnomers about the group of contaminants, what some states are doing in their battles against PFAS, and what is happening at the federal level regarding regulations.
PFAS are a group of 4700-plus human-made chemicals in use since the 1940s. They are found in a wide range of products such as firefighting foam, waterproof clothing, stain-proofing for carpets and upholstery, fast-food wrappers, and more. Their exposure has been linked to cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, immune system suppression, and endocrine system disruption.
Since PFAS pose risks to human health and the environment at low concentrations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established in 2016 a health advisory for two PFAS compounds — the sum of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) — in drinking water at 70 parts per trillion (ppt).
Avram Frankel, PE, principal at Integral Consulting Inc, told Water Well Journal, “A significant challenge [posed by PFAS] is the low ppt regulatory thresholds. Groundwater plumes get really big, really fast at ppt concentrations. Imagine how big some of our chlorinated solvent plumes would be at ppt thresholds.
“And, to state the obvious, compounds that do not appear to biodegrade are an additional remedial challenge.”
Steve Sliver, PFAS executive lead for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, said Michigan’s efforts in 2018 indicate there is no exposure to PFAS in drinking water from community water supplies that serve 75 percent of its residents.
Analysis of testing at more than 1100 public water supplies and schools and childcare providers/Michigan Head Start programs with their own well showed PFAS were not detected in about 90 percent of the samples. A total of 97 percent had less than 10 ppt total PFAS, the department cutoff for whether follow-up was needed.
“Going forward, we intend to use the results of the statewide testing to help inform where we should target testing of other supplies, like some of the 9000 noncommunity supplies and even some of the one million private residential wells,” Sliver said.
Federally, NGWA Director of Government Affairs Lauren Schapker said Congress was busy last year with hearings on PFAS and expects the subject to be front and center on Capitol Hill once again this year.
“[Congress] spent 2018 determining the scope of the problem, now it’s time to take what they’ve learned and pass legislation,” Schapker said. “I hope Congress focuses on legislation to clean up contamination, ensure those in contaminated areas have the resources they need to test and treat their water, and to create a national picture of PFAS contamination.”
Water Well Journal also conducted a video interview with Frankel who delves deeper into the subject and shares what questions are being asked between consultants, contractors, and technology vendors around PFAS issues.
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