TWU: ‘Forever chemicals’ not problem in drinking water
Wastewater yet to be tested for PFAS
TEXARKANA — As new federal limits on socalled forever chemicals in drinking water take effect, Texarkana Water Utilities is working to assess how much, if any, of the toxic substances could be in the local supply.
The Environmental Protection Agency rule announced April 19 targets perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFO). They are just two of the thousands of widespread perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The chemicals are long-lasting, and certain concentrations are believed to be toxic to humans.
The EPA ruling will require utilities to ensure the concentration of PFOA and PFO in drinking water is no more than 4 parts per trillion. Doing so would protect 100 million people from PFAS exposure, and prevent tens of thousands of serious illnesses potentially related to the substances, according to the federal government.
Millwood Lake near Ashdown, Arkansas, and Wright Patman Lake in Texarkana, Texas, are the primary sources of water for TWU. The utility has completed a year of quarterly PFAS testing on Millwood.
“No detectable traces at all found of any PFOAS or PFOS that we tested,” laboratory supervisor Chris Cagle said about the Little River County water source.
The procedure can look for about 50 of the more concerning PFAS, said David Waldroup, TWU environmental engineer.
The year of testing on Wright Patman will start in November, but Cagle does not expect any alarming reports.
“Millwood was the one that I was most concerned about, being in proximity to Texarkana airport. Wright Patman is far enough away from most industry that contamination it is susceptible to is very low,” he said.
On the wastewater side, the situation is not as cut and dry.
Waldroup said unlike with drinking water, there are no defined limits for PFAS concentrations in wastewater. He said everyday activities and materials add per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to water.
“The chemicals that they use to wash your car contain PFAS,” he said about drivethrough car washes.
Waldroup and Cagle said PFAS also are found in rain repellents for clothing and vehicle windows; fire-suppression foams; and certain nonstick coatings for cooking utensils.
Despite the lack of standardized PFAS testing for wastewater, it is unlikely concerning levels of the substances remain in the water after it has been treated.
“The water that leaves the wastewater plants goes downstream and becomes drinking water for someone else. We haven’t had any reports of anything anywhere ever showing up,” he said.
Waldroup said the EPA is in the process of selecting wastewater plants nationwide for a year of quarterly PFAS testing. If TWU is chosen, it will come at an expense.
“Based on what we know, we’d have to invest about $40,000 in equipment, but that’s a one-time expense. Test running would roughly be $6,000 a quarter,” Waldroup said.
In comparison, it costs about $1,500 to $2,000 to test drinking water, Cagle said. The difference is TWU can test drinking water in-house, while wastewater samples will be sent to an outside laboratory for analysis. Inhouse wastewater tests would dramatically increase costs, Waldroup said.
It could be the first quarter of 2025 before TWU knows if was selected for the sampling event.
The EPA said compliance with its rule is estimated to cost approximately $1.5 billion annually. The Biden-harris
Administration has dedicated $9 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help communities reduce PFAS concentrations
“Water treatment technologies exist to remove PFAS from drinking water, including granular activated carbon, reverse osmosis and ion exchange systems,” the EPA reports.
Each community will have discretion on which removal technology to use.