Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

• What are Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)?

  You may have heard discussions over the last few years about PFAS or Perfluorinated chemicals. These chemical compounds have been around since the early 1940’s and are widely found in products that we use frequently in our daily lives. Some of the products these chemicals are found in include: non-stick cookware, stain repellant and water repellant products and chemicals, dental floss, cleaning products, cosmetics, food containers, and fire-fighting foam. Concern over these chemicals has increased in recent years as some studies have determined that exposure to elevated levels of some of these compounds can lead to adverse health outcomes. 

• Where do Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) come from?

  PFAS compounds are widely used in everyday products. Some of the more common sources in the environment are manufacturing facilities that produce or utilize these chemicals in large quantities and firefighting foam near and around airports and military installations that have used these products in the past. Because the compounds do not break down readily in the environment through natural processes, they tend to persist for long periods of time and are difficult to remediate. 

• Does the Leesburg Utilities Department test for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)?

  The Town of Leesburg voluntarily tested for a group of PFAS chemicals in 2021, 2022 and 2023 utilizing methods that are capable of detecting these compounds at much lower levels than previously attainable. The Town analyzed for eighteen (18) PFAS compounds including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA). The Town analyzed samples at both the source water prior to treatment and in the distribution system. One of the eighteen compounds tested for was detected in the distribution system and two have been detected in the source water. While the results from our testing are encouraging, these compounds are very common in the environment, and it is reasonable to expect that detectable levels are present in the water from time to time. It should also be noted that the detection level of the EPA method utilized can only accurately measure these compounds down to 1.9 ppt.

   A comparison of the testing conducted to date and the new EPA MCL level are outlined in the table below:

  Analyte	Leesburg Distribution Results	EPA's New Proposed MCL
  PFOA	<1.9 ppt	4.0 ppt
  PFOS	2.0 ppt	4.0 ppt

   

   

   

   

  The single detection of PFOS at 2.0 ppt is above the EPA Health Advisory Level (HAL) of 0.02 ppt. At this time, the lowest level that instruments can accurately detect these compounds is 2 ppt, therefore results cannot be accurately measured down to the EPA HAL of 0.02. The level detected in our sampling does not represent an emergency or regulatory violation. If this had been an emergency, customer would have been contacted. If you are concerned about potential health effects from these compounds above the HA level, EPA encourages you to contact your health professional. EPA is not currently recommending bottled water for communities that exceed the HA for these compounds.

  A summary of all Town of Leesburg PFAS testing can be viewed at the link below.

  • Detailed report of all Town of Leesburg PFAS testing data

   

• Where can I get more information about Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)?

  For more information on PFAS compounds, their occurrence, and what you may be able to do to reduce your exposure, see the links below. 

  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
  • Virginia Department of Health
  • American Water Works Association (AWWA)