PFAS IN DRINKING WATER
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PACE® HELPS WATER PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY REMAIN COMPLIANT WITH EPA AND STATE DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS.
NEW HEALTH ADVISORIES LEAVE PEOPLE WONDERING
This fall, the U.S. EPA issued interim health advisories for PFOA and PFOS, dramatically lowering previous levels from 70 ppt, individually or combined, to 0.004 ppt for PFOA and 0.02 ppt for PFOS. This has left many drinking water professionals wondering how they arrived at such dramatically lower lifetime limits and how this is going to impact their operations. We answer the first question and provide insights into the second in our recent on-demand webinar.
THE EPA TARGETS PFOA AND PFOS
In addition to issuing ultra-low interim health advisories, the EPA expects to propose national primary drinking water limits for PFOA and PFOS in EARLY 2023, with a final rule by the end of the year. These new limits will be the first-ever MCLs for PFAS set by the agency.
BROADENING THE PFAS FOCUS
While PFOA and PFOS are a primary focus of the U.S. EPA’s regulatory efforts, they aren’t the only PFAS of concern. The agency also issued final health advisories for PFBS and GenX of 10 ppt and 2000 ppt, respectively. The 2021-2024 PFAS Strategic Roadmap also calls for increased research into the toxicity of other commonly used PFAS. An assessment was recently completed for PFBA, and assessments are planned for PFHxS, PFHxA, PFNA, and PFDA. The process can take years, but toxicity assessments are often a precursor for health advisories, which can, in turn, lead to regulatory efforts at the state and federal level.
STATE REGULATORY LANDSCAPE FOR PFAS IN DRINKING WATER
While the federal regulatory landscape heats up, many states have issued their own MCLs, health advisories, and other limits for PFAS in drinking water. Currently, much of this rulemaking is aligned to the U.S. EPA’s outdated health advisory of 70 ppt for PFOA and PFOS combined. However, the agency’s new health advisories have many states considering lower limits for PFOA and PFOS as well as other compounds for which toxicity assessments have been released. For example, in January of 2023, Pennsylvania set new MCLs for drinking water of 14 ppt for PFOA and 18 ppt for PFOS.
UCMR 5
The EPA’s Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) requires all public water systems serving more than 3300 customers and a randomly selected group of 800 small systems to begin sampling in 2023 for 29 PFAS plus lithium. The data will be combined with data from other EPA programs and made publicly available through the EPA’s new PFAS Analytical Tools.
Pace® is an approved UCMR 5 lab and offers all three methods required to test for the 29 PFAS plus lithium.
Reach out to us for project planning assistance or to request a quote.
PRIMARY PFAS DRINKING WATER TEST METHODS
The EPA has two validated methods for analyzing PFAS in drinking water that can be used for compliance. In addition to being an approved UCMR 5 lab, Pace® maintains drinking water certifications in every state with a required lab-accreditation program.
EPA Test Method 537.1
18 compounds Compliance Method
EPA Test Method 533
25 compounds Compliance Method
Other Test Methods
Pace® offers a wide array of other test methods suitable for non-compliance projects.
TESTING DRINKING WATER SOURCES
PFAS can directly enter a water system through ground and surface water sources that contain PFAS. These sources, in turn, can become contaminated through a number of other routes such as wastewater, biosolids, landfill leachate, and more. Visit our individual matrices pages to learn more about how PFAS spreads throughout the environment and appropriate test methods to use for each matrix.
PFAS MATTERS
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REASONS TO CHOOSE PACE®
EXPERIENCED
Pace® has been an industry leader in persistent organic pollutant testing for over three decades.
CERTIFIED
We’re certified/accredited by NELAC, ISO, DOD, DOE, and in every state with a PFAS lab certification program.
RELIABLE
For emergencies, our Rapid Response Team can provide defensible results in as little as 24 hours.
COMMITTED
We are committed to helping our customers advance their important work through building strong relationships, delivering upon expectations, and providing exceptional customer service.
ADVANCED
We can test for PFAS in both solid and aqueous matrices, including potable and non-potable waters, soils, and biota.
INNOVATIVE
We’re on the leading edge of science, working with EPA, DOD, ASTM, and others to develop new methods for analyzing PFAS.
