Greater Cincinnati Water Work’s top priority is providing safe and healthy drinking water that meets all regulatory standards. This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new Health Advisory Levels to manage the risk for a group of chemicals in drinking water called PFAS.

PFAS stands for perfluoralkyl and polyfluoralkyl substances. They are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in consumer products since the 1940s, usually in the manufacture of non-stick coatings, clothing, carpet, and food wrappers.

The compounds typically do not break down under normal environmental conditions, which has earned them the nickname of “forever chemicals.” Because of their widespread use, microscopic traces of the compounds are commonly found in drinking water and in the bloodstream of many people.

 

What is the EPA’s Health Advisory Level?

Creating new drinking water regulations is often a lengthy process. In science, there is no such thing as zero, so research is important to determine an acceptable risk level for public health. A health advisory level is commonly a first step in the EPA developing a regulation.

The EPA set new interim Health Advisory Levels for PFOA at 0.004 parts per trillion and for PFOS at 0.02 parts per trillion. These are extremely small amounts. For perspective, 1 part per trillion is equal to 1 drop in 500,000 barrels of water.

Health advisories are not enforceable like regulations. Instead, advisories provide guidance before the EPA develops a formal regulation. The health advisory level is the minimum concentration of a compound which may present health risks to an individual over a lifetime of exposure.

 

What are the levels in GCWW’s drinking water?

GCWW samples our source waters and the treated drinking water leaving our plants. About 88% of our customers are served by the Richard Miller Treatment Plant, while the remaining 12% are served by the Charles M. Bolton Water Plant.

Our sampling has not detected any PFOA or PFOS in the water from the Richard Miller Treatment Plant. At the Charles M. Bolton Water Plant, sampling has shown PFOA levels ranging from non-detectable to 4.7 parts per trillion, and PFOS levels ranging from non-detectable to 5.7 parts per trillion. These are well below the previous Health Advisory Levels, but above the updated levels.

The other PFAS compounds for which EPA issued Health Advisory Levels are hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (known as “GenX”) and Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). Our monitoring results indicate levels well below the new Health Advisory Levels.

The results of this monitoring are published on our website at https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/water/water-quality-and-treatment/water-your-health/pfas/.

 

What is GCWW doing about these compounds?

GCWW will continue to monitor the source and treated water at both treatment plants. Additionally, an aggressive sampling plan is being developed to identify whether the PFOA and PFOS are coming from a specific source upstream of the well field at the Charles M. Bolton Water Plant. If a source is found, we will take steps to reduce or eliminate the source.

It is anticipated the U.S. EPA will develop regulatory levels within the next two years. Ohio EPA is responsible for enforcing federal drinking water regulations and has the authority to implement regulations with stricter requirements. GCWW will work closely with Ohio EPA to determine if additional steps are necessary to address drinking water with levels above the Health Advisory Levels.

The compounds are not an immediate health threat and GCWW’s water does not violate any drinking water regulations. However, GCWW will be working with the Ohio EPA to investigate source water quality and/or operational or treatment modifications to minimize PFAS levels in the drinking water.