Virginia has recently embarked on a comprehensive process to identify the sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of chemicals often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their persistent nature in the environment. This monumental initiative follows the adoption of a new law by the state legislature, which mandates a thorough examination of PFAS sources after the discovery of these substances in concentrations exceeding regulatory limits in the drinking water of 28 water systems across various regions of Virginia, including Fauquier and Loudoun counties, Fairfax County, the Hampton Roads region, and Roanoke County in Southwest Virginia. These efforts aim to address the widespread contamination affecting these systems, which collectively serve approximately 2.29 million residents.
The situation becomes particularly alarming considering that the six largest systems, which include Loudoun Water Central System and those in Newport News, Norfolk, Stafford County, and Fairfax County, collectively cater to about 2.2 million individuals. Within this context, the prompt and detailed response required from various water systems is essential to ensure a comprehensive assessment process. While the detection of PFAS is undoubtedly a cause for concern, it is essential to note that much of this data was already publicly available. This foundation of transparency has enabled water systems like those in Loudoun and Fauquier counties to proactively report data to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), thereby bolstering the state’s effort to assess and manage the PFAS contamination issue.
Proactive Reporting and Legislative Action
Carroll Courtenay, a staff attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, remarked that the availability of this data has helped to underscore the urgency and significance of the problem. PFAS are commonly found in household items such as clothing and cookware and have been widely used in firefighting foam due to their ability to repel liquids and suppress heat with their strong chemical bonds. However, these same bonds make PFAS incredibly difficult to eliminate once they enter the environment, contributing to their persistence and potential adverse effects on health and ecosystems.
To address the issue, the DEQ was made aware of these drinking water results following a mandated transfer of reporting data from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). This transfer, mandated by legislation introduced by Democratic State Senators Jeremy McPike and Sam Rasoul, included results from past VDH testing, the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) test, and voluntary reporting from Loudoun and Fauquier counties. The significance of these efforts cannot be understated, as they revealed that PFAS levels in affected water systems exceeded the state’s maximum contaminant levels considered safe, measured at four or ten parts per trillion. This measurement is staggering and demonstrates the severity of the situation since one part per trillion is comparable to one drop of water in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Data Transfer and Testing Results
Fauquier and Loudoun counties set an impressive example of proactive response by self-reporting their high PFAS levels, highlighting their commitment to diligent sampling and data sharing. Ben Shoemaker, the executive director at the Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority, noted that comprehensive sampling was conducted at 48 groundwater wells to tackle a laboratory contamination issue. Such high levels of diligence are critical, given the ease with which PFAS can contaminate water samples and lead to false positives during testing.
Fauquier County’s exhaustive sampling efforts, which cost approximately $25,000, aimed to align with funding requirements from class action lawsuits focused on PFAS remediation. Similarly, Loudoun Water, which manages the Loudoun Water Central System, Beacon Hill-Loudoun County Sanitation Authority, and Creighton Farms systems, has also been making significant strides. In its quest to understand and address its PFAS situation, Loudoun Water has taken active measures to ensure relevant information is accessible to its customers.
In light of the detection of PFAS, the recently enacted legislative framework directs DEQ to proceed with evaluating potential sources of PFAS. As part of this process, DEQ must notify identified sources and require them to either self-report, self-report while monitoring, or solely monitor based on existing data when possible. These efforts form a critical part of Virginia’s broader strategy to manage and mitigate the impact of PFAS on the environment and public health.
Identifying Potential PFAS Sources
The potential sources of PFAS contamination are varied and include manufacturing facilities that discharge into wastewater and landfills without adequate protections such as liners, resulting in chemical seepage. DEQ might revisit a voluntary survey sent out in 2022 to better identify PFAS sources, though it had a low response rate of only 10%. Another known source of PFAS discharge is the Danville Northside Wastewater Treatment plant.
According to David Sligh, conservation director at Wild Virginia, surface water contamination sources often stem from upstream areas with permitted discharges or zones where DEQ has approved land application of sludge. Groundwater contamination, frequently observed, can be attributed to biosolids spread on agricultural lands or events like the use of firefighting foam during car crashes. PFAS’s pervasiveness poses a significant challenge in tracing its sources, further compounded by limited industrial activities in rural areas like Fauquier County, as highlighted by Shoemaker.
The sheer spectrum of potential PFAS sources emphasizes the need for a robust prioritization process. This legislative requirement mandates the DEQ to establish priorities for reporting and monitoring sources, a critical step in efficiently addressing contamination. The formation of the PFAS Advisory Committee, as directed by the law, aims to guide DEQ’s actions in managing PFAS contamination effectively.
Challenges in Tracing Contamination Sources
The path to locating the exact origin of PFAS in groundwater proves complex in areas with modest industrial activity. The broad spectrum of potential sources underscores the importance of a meticulous and structured approach to reporting and monitoring. Given the broad spectrum, the PFAS Advisory Committee plays a crucial role, overseeing DEQ’s actions regarding PFAS and evaluating how other states have managed similar challenges.
The committee navigates through stringent examination processes, evaluating other states’ endeavors, such as in Arizona, North Carolina, and Maryland. This nuanced approach includes considering public health impacts, characteristics of drinking water systems, and environmental factors. For surface water assessments, the emphasis lies on entire watershed areas upstream of water treatment plants. When it comes to groundwater sources, a more focused approach is applied, examining areas within a three-mile radius from the contaminated well.
Role of the PFAS Advisory Committee
Virginia has recently launched an extensive initiative to identify the sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals” due to their longevity in the environment. This significant move comes after the state legislature passed a new law requiring a thorough examination of PFAS sources. This law was prompted by the detection of these chemicals in concentrations above regulatory limits in the drinking water of 28 water systems across various regions of Virginia. These regions include Fauquier and Loudoun counties, Fairfax County, the Hampton Roads area, and Roanoke County in Southwest Virginia. The goal is to address the contamination affecting these systems, which together serve around 2.29 million residents.
The urgency is heightened given that the six largest systems, including the Loudoun Water Central System and those in Newport News, Norfolk, Stafford County, and Fairfax County, serve about 2.2 million people. A prompt and detailed response is essential to ensure a comprehensive assessment process. Although the detection of PFAS is alarming, it’s crucial to remember that much of this information was already publicly available. This transparency has allowed water systems in places like Loudoun and Fauquier counties to report data proactively to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). This cooperation strengthens the state’s efforts to manage and mitigate the PFAS contamination issue effectively.
