Emerging Contaminants
A message to Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) customers about Per and poly-fluorinated substances (PFAS) and "forever chemicals"
Background
PFAS are commonly used in food packaging, clothing, cosmetics, non-stick cookware and firefighting foam. In some parts of the country, these chemicals have been sprayed on the ground or dumped by manufacturers for decades. They are now being found in some watersheds especially near manufacturers, airports and military bases.
PFAS compounds break down very slowly and have been detected in water across the nation.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. EPA estimates that drinking water represents 20 percent of Americans exposure to PFAS chemicals with 80 percent of exposure coming from food and food packaging, cookware, cosmetics and other sources.
PFAS chemicals are measured in nanograms per liter (ng/L) or parts per trillion. As detection methods have improved, the minimum reporting level has decreased.
PFAS and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
In April 2024, the U.S. EPA announced a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for five PFAS compounds: 4 ng/L each for PFOA and for PFOS and 10ng/L each for PFNA, PFHxS and HFPO-DA. An MCL is a legally enforceable limit. PFOA and PFOS can be reliably measured at levels as low as 4 ng/L or 4 parts per trillion.
The EPA also set an enforceable limit for the combination of two or more of these four compounds HFPO-DA (Gen X), PFBS, PFNA and PFHxS. The formula for calculating the allowable limit for combinations of these four compounds is called the Hazard Index.
These MCLs for PFAS represent chronic, or long-term health hazards and assuming that a person drinks 2.5 liters of impacted water every day for 70 years.
EPA has provided a 5-year timeline (2029 deadline) for water systems to modify or add treatment processes in order to comply with the final MCL.
Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority PFAS Levels
Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) is taking tests and collecting data to determine baseline levels of forever chemicals in both our source water and the water leaving our treatment plants and has been doing so for many years. We have detected low levels for three of the regulated compounds at levels both above and below the new MCLs. The other regulated compounds were all below detectable levels.
In 2023, BJWSA started regular monthly testing for these contaminants. This additional data is helping us understand the PFAS levels in our source water. BJWSA will likely have to add another treatment process at our two water treatment plants to remove PFAS to the levels in the current EPA proposal.
It is important to know that BJWSA is committed to assuring that our water will meet all state and federal guidelines and will make any adjustments necessary to reduce PFAS levels.