Recent data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reveal a growing concern about PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, contaminating public drinking water systems across the United States. These so-called “forever chemicals,” known for their durability in the environment, have been linked to serious health risks, including cancer. As part of the EPA’s largest monitoring initiative to date, thousands of public water systems began testing for PFAS in 2023. The results are troubling: over 1,000 systems have detected PFAS levels exceeding the new EPA limits, with nearly 400 systems repeatedly surpassing these thresholds.
Sources of PFAS Contamination
Analysis by USA TODAY highlights that local officials frequently cite airports, utilities such as sewage treatment plants, and military bases as primary sources of PFAS pollution in drinking water. Among the 168 water systems that identified a specific source and reported contamination above EPA limits, military installations were the most commonly implicated. Major cities like Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Sacramento have all pointed to nearby military bases as contributors to their PFAS issues.
In Ohio, the cities of Dayton and Cincinnati have specifically blamed Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for PFAS contamination in their water supplies. Dayton has taken legal action against the federal government, seeking compensation for the costs associated with treating PFAS-tainted water. Cincinnati is also grappling with the financial burden of addressing this contamination, with water quality superintendent Jeff Swertfeger voicing frustration over the lack of accountability for polluters. “Our ratepayers are paying $100 million [to remove PFAS], and Wright-Patterson is still allowed to put this stuff out,” Swertfeger said, questioning why the responsibility falls on local utilities rather than the polluters themselves.
The Widespread Impact of PFAS
The scale of PFAS contamination is significant, with more than 6,000 drinking water systems potentially needing to take action to comply with the EPA’s new limits. This could affect up to 100 million Americans, necessitating expensive solutions like advanced filtration systems or the decommissioning of contaminated wells.
Military Bases and Airports: Leading Contributors to PFAS Pollution
Military bases have been identified as the top source of PFAS in drinking water, followed closely by airports. For example, the Richmond International Airport, which sits upstream from Newport News, Virginia, has been singled out as a major contributor to local PFAS contamination. Similarly, the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, has been linked to PFAS pollution in the region, primarily due to the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has been slow to fully address its role in PFAS contamination. Although the DoD has committed to transitioning its facilities to PFAS-free alternatives, it recently requested a waiver to delay the deadline for this transition until 2025. Meanwhile, contamination investigations are ongoing at over 700 active and former military bases worldwide.
Dayton’s ongoing lawsuit against the Air Force highlights the severity of the problem. The city accuses the Air Force of failing to take adequate measures to prevent PFAS from seeping into its aquifer, a vital drinking water source for over 2.5 million people in southwest Ohio. The lawsuit asserts that PFAS from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has migrated into Dayton’s wellfield and water supply, with no significant action taken to mitigate the contamination.
Water Utilities Caught in the Middle
Water utility officials across the country express a shared frustration: they are left to manage the consequences of PFAS pollution without the polluters being held accountable. This sentiment was echoed by Swertfeger in Cincinnati, where the city is spending over $100 million to install an advanced treatment system to remove PFAS from its water supply.
In Sacramento, water utility officials indicated that nearby military bases and waste management facilities are likely sources of PFAS contamination. However, the city’s water quality superintendent, Mark Severeid, clarified that their response to the EPA’s questionnaire was not an accusation but rather an acknowledgment of potential sources in the area.
Miami-Dade’s water utility initially pointed to airports as a possible source of PFAS, only to later retract this assertion, citing an error in their reporting. Nonetheless, the utility faces the daunting prospect of spending up to $4 billion to upgrade its treatment systems to meet the new EPA standards.
In Wilmington, Delaware, Veolia Water’s plants have consistently tested above the new PFAS limits, with the utility pointing to a nearby military base as a potential source. However, Veolia has declined to comment on these findings.
The Challenges of Identifying and Holding Polluters Accountable
Identifying the exact sources of PFAS contamination can be challenging, especially in larger cities with multiple potential contributors. Environmental groups, such as the Environmental Working Group, argue that some communities may be reluctant to hold military bases accountable due to their economic and social importance. Jared Hayes, a senior policy analyst at the group, noted, “Many people who live and work in these communities are veterans. They don’t necessarily want to paint the DoD as the bad guy.”
Hayes pointed to historical reports commissioned by the military that highlighted the dangers of PFAS as far back as the 1970s. Despite these warnings, the use of PFAS-containing materials continued, leading to widespread contamination.
EPA’s Role and the Path Forward
The EPA’s data collection efforts are crucial in understanding the extent of PFAS contamination and the sources contributing to it. This information will inform future regulations and enforcement actions aimed at reducing PFAS pollution at its source. The EPA has emphasized the importance of restricting discharges from industrial facilities that use PFAS, which could significantly reduce the burden on water utilities.
As the EPA continues to gather data and set standards, the hope is that polluters, rather than local utilities and ratepayers, will bear the cost of cleaning up PFAS contamination. “Let’s put that cost burden on the polluters, and make the polluters pay to clean up the mess,” said Hayes.
The Role of Reverse Osmosis and Water Conditioners
For affected communities, reverse osmosis (RO) filtration and whole-home water conditioners offer effective solutions to reduce PFAS levels in drinking water. RO systems can remove up to 99% of PFAS, providing a safeguard for households concerned about contamination. Whole-home water conditioners, which treat water at the point of entry, can also play a role in reducing PFAS and other contaminants across the entire household. These technologies, though costly, offer a line of defense for communities awaiting broader regulatory and remedial actions.
Source: USA Today