Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: The Facts

What are PFAS?

PFAS are a group of man made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX and many other chemicals. PFAS have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe, including in the United States since the 1940s. PFOA and PFOS have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals. Both chemicals are very persistent in the environment and in the human body - meaning they don't break down and they can accumulate over time. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects.

Learn more from NRWA's Rural Water magazine article

NRWA is bringing together utility systems from across the country that have concerns or have been affected by PFAS contamination. NRWA has set up a page on its website, for systems to enter their information. This information will allow NRWA to arrange a free evaluation of the system and provide more details about efforts to recover costs for remediation and treatment from PFAS contamination.

Is your system being affected by PFAS?

Visit nrwa.org/initiatives/pfas to learn more and be a part of future efforts to recoup costs from PFAS contamination.

 

3/14/2023

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) to establish Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for six PFAS in drinking water. These include PFOA and PFOS as individual contaminants, and PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS, and HFPO-DA (or GenX Chemicals) as a PFAS mixture. Additionally, EPA is proposing health-based, non-enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for these six PFAS. See the full press release