Learning and Getting Answers on PFAS When it Comes to Water Safety

You might have heard the acronym PFAS and how this group of artificial chemicals causes concern for the environment across the country. PFAS, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are widely used, long-lasting synthetic chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time. Stafford County Utilities performs hundreds of tests annually to ensure that our water meets all Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements. Stafford County Utilities is committed to ensuring that high-quality water is available whenever you reach for your tap. For more information on PFAS and how to avoid exposure, visit www.staffordcountyva.gov/PFAS. You may also find the 2022 Annual Water Quality Report on Stafford's website.

To help with explaining more about PFAS, we put together the following questions and answers to understand better what this is all about.

  • What is PFAS?
    • PFAS is short for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.
    • PFAS are widely used, long-lasting artificial chemicals, components that break down slowly in consumer products such as carpets, clothing, food packaging, cookware, industrial applications, and firefighting since the 1940s.
  • Where are PFAS found?
    • PFAS are found in water, air, fish and soil worldwide.
    • Because of their widespread use and persistence in the environment, most people in the U.S. have measurable amounts of PFAS in their bodies. They are present at low levels in various food products and the environment.
  • Are they harmful to humans?
    • According to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), exposure to some PFAs in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.
  • What is not known about PFAS? According to the EPA, scientists still do not fully understand the following:
    • How to better and more efficiently detect and measure PFAS in our air, water, soil, and fish and wildlife
    • How many people are exposed to PFAS
    • How harmful PFAS are to people and the environment
    • How to remove PFAS from drinking water
    • How to manage and dispose of PFAS
  • Are there regulations concerning PFAS regarding water treatment facilities?
    • There are no established federal water quality regulations for any PFAS compounds.
    • On June 15, 2022, the EPA issued interim updated drinking water health advisories for PFAS that indicate that negative health effects may occur with concentrations of PFAS in water that are near zero. These interim health advisories will remain in place until the EPA establishes a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation.
    • Health advisory levels are non-enforceable as opposed to regulations.
  • Does Stafford County have PFAS?
    • Yes
  • How do we know?
    • In April 2021, the Virginia Department of Health asked Stafford County and several other Virginia waterworks to participate in a Virginia PFAS Sampling Study. Results were received and indicated the presence of PFAS in Stafford's water at levels above the advisory level of nearly zero.
  • What are the levels in Stafford County?
    • Through the VDH study, Stafford County sampled both water treatment facilities for 25 PFAS compounds. Almost all of these compounds were under the detection limit for PFAS, and a few were slightly over the detection limit.
    • Currently, tests cannot be performed that detect down to the EPA's interim health advisory levels for PFOS and PFOA.
  • What is next for dealing with PFAS in the water?
    • Stafford County Utilities follows the guidance of the EPA and VDH Office of Drinking Water and will collect PFAS samples in 2023 for the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5).
    • Further guidance and potential necessary actions may be taken to meet future state and federal regulations when they are established.
  • Is our water safe?