PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) are a group of man-made chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. PFAS have been found in various consumer products (such as non-stick cookware, stain-resistant coatings for carpet and upholstery, grease-proof food packaging, cosmetics, and cleaning products) and as an ingredient in firefighting foam. PFAS manufacturing and processing facilities, airports, and military installations are some contributors to PFAS releases into the air, soil, and water.
Because of their widespread use, most people have been exposed to PFAS, and there is evidence that exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health effects.
On April 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS compounds. Under this new regulation, public water systems have three years to complete initial monitoring (by 2027), followed by ongoing compliance monitoring. Holley-Navarre Water System (HNWS) will begin monitoring for PFAS under these regulations starting in 2026.
As part of the EPA’s Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5), HNWS conducted sampling of its drinking water sources in May and November 2024. The results of all testing conducted to date indicate that the levels of the six regulated PFAS compounds at HNWS points of entry are below the newly established Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), and therefore fully compliant with the EPA’s drinking water standards.
For more information about PFAS and the new National Primary Drinking Water Regulations,
please visit the EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/pfas. You can also find information at https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas.
