Identifying the Feasible Maximum Contaminant Level for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances That Ensures Health and Safety While Maintaining Affordability and Equity of Drinking Water and Implementation of That Maximum Contaminant Level Within California by the State Water Resources Control Board
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a large group of man-made substances that do not occur naturally in the environment and are resistant to heat, water, oil, grease, and stains. PFAS has been used since the 1940s in a variety of commercial products including non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, paper products, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, industrial firefighting foams, and products that resist grease, water, and oil. While 97% of the U.S. population has been shown to have some level of PFAS within their blood, long term exposure to PFAS is potentially harmful to health. Individuals who are exposed regularly have been shown to have decreased fertility and birth weight, weakened immune systems, increased risk of cancer, asthma, thyroid disease, and liver damage, and increased cholesterol levels. On April 5, 2024, the California Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment issued a Public Health Goal (PHG) of 0.007 ppt for PFOA and 1.0 ppt for PFOS within drinking water. On April 10, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4.0 ppt for both PFOA and PFOS. The objective of this proposal is to provide a recommendation to the SWRCB in relation to the regulatory level, phases, and MCLs for PFAS. The intent of this recommendation is to take into account the feasibility of the MCL and the level to which these MCLs can be tested, treated, and reduced. A linkage between PFAS and health at various levels of exposure. Since drinking water is one of the most at-risk locations for long-term exposure, regulations are needed to prevent disease and “forever chemicals” from causing undo harm. Using the best available science, the proposal will take into consideration the possible treatment options available, the possible level of PFAS reduction as well as the cost of treatment. Weighing all of that together, the proposal produces an MCL which is both feasible for water providers and addresses the health risks associated with long-term exposure to PFAS within drinking water. Given the EPA’s detailed technological and feasibility documents for their creation of the PFAS MCL, it is recommended that the SWRCB MCL be set to the same standard as the EPA federal regulation. Feasibility factors further drive the policy recommendation to be consistent with that of the EPA MCL, with the state specific stipulation of continued re-evaluation every six years as well as an implementation schedule that provides appropriate timeframes for reaching the MCL related to public water system size, current treatment systems, and disadvantaged community status.
Environmental Protection Agency, Forever Chemicals, MCL, PFAS, State Regulation, Water Quality, Public Health
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