PFAS

This has been a moving target but has decreased over the last several years.  The first testing for PFAs was done by the USEPA as part of their Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule #3 (UCMR3).  From 2013-2015, they tested a cross section of public water supplies accross the country to see how common PFAS is in drinking water.  Topsfield was selected to participate in the study and both of our sources were tested twice during 2014.  No PFAS compounds were detected.

As a result of the UCMR3 tests and emerging scientific evidence, USEPA created a health advisory in 2016 for two chemicals - PFOA & PFOS.  The combined total of these compounds shouldn't exceed 70 parts per trillion (ppt).  MassDEP announced in January 2019 that they intended to regulate PFAS and published draft regualtions in October of 2019.  The proposed regulations went through a typical review process and public comment period and went into effect on October 1, 2020.  EPA has lowered allowable levels for certian PFAS compounds with new national regulations published on April 10, 2024.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the final PFAS regulations on April 10, 2024.  The regulations were initally issued in draft form during 2023.

EPA Regulations

The new EPA regulations set Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) at 4 parts per trillion (ppt); PFNA (perfluorononanoic acid), PFHxS (perfluorohexanesulfonic acid), and GenX (hexafluoroproplene oxide) at 10 ppt; and a hazard index for mixtures of PFNA, PFHxS, GenX and PFBS.

The new regulations are being phased into effect.  Systems are required to start testing for these compounds within 3 years, report the results in the annual Water Quality Report, and notify customers of any violations.  Systems have 5 years to comply with the new MCLs by either installing appropriate treatment or finding alternative PFAS-free water supplies.

The regulations also created Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for PFOS and PFOA of 0 ppt.  This means that EPA would like to eliminate PFOS and PFOA from water supplies accross the country but current testing protocols, treatment methods, and economic conditions make it infeasible.  We expect the MCLs to drop as testing and treatment methods improve.