Lead and Copper Rule Sample Approved Site Location Map with 2018 Results. View larger map
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
PFAS are man-made chemicals used to fight fires and in a variety of products and applications that are resistant to water, grease, or stains, including nonstick cookware, carpets, upholstered furniture, clothing, and food packaging. These chemicals are highly recalcitrant to degradation in the environment and can mobilize into surface and groundwater from areas throughout the country that may have been contaminated for various reasons.
These chemicals are currently being reviewed by the EPA to become a regulated contaminant. However, they are presently unregulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA has a health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for two types of PFAS: PFOA and PFOS ( perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid).
To best determine if this problem exists throughout Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) requested that public water systems test their sources to determine the levels of PFAS in their water. The Kent County Water Authority was part of the study and the results are as follows:
Total PFOA and PFOS detected at KCWA:
Mishnock Well 3: None Detected
Mishnock Well 4: 13.8 part per trillion (ppt)
Mishnock Well 5: None Detected
Spring Lake: 9.42 part per trillion (ppt)
East Greenwich Well: 9.70 part per trillion (ppt)
The EPA has a health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for two types of PFAS: PFOA and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid). For comparison purposes a part per trillion is equivalent to about thirty seconds out of every million years. RIDOH is reviewing information about these chemicals as it becomes available and will notify us about any changes in what are considered levels of concern. For more information about PFAS, please see the information posted online by RIDOH: http://health.ri.gov/water/about/pfas/ and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fact sheet at https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-infonnation-about-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfass#tab1 Additionally, feel free to call us at 821-9300 for information as well.
OTHER RHODE ISLAND ACTION FOR PFAS
The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) and Toxics Action Center (TAC) petitioned the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to establish a more aggressive drinking water standard than the EPA health advisory level for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) that is protective of public health. Specifically, the petitioners requested that RIDOH immediately adopt the Vermont Department of Health’s (Vermont Health’s) Drinking Water Advisory for PFAS (Vermont PFAS Health Advisory) of 20 parts per trillion (ppt) for the sum of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), PFOS (perfluoro-octane sulfonic acid), PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonic acid), PFHpA (perfluoroheptanoic acid), and PFNA (perfluorononanoic acid) as a maximum contaminant level (MCL) to protect public health.
In response to the CLF/TAC petition, RI House Bill H 6064 - AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PFAS IN DRINKING AND SURFACE WATERS (Establishes process to set maximum contaminate levels of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) was introduced the Rhode Island Legislature to set the levels to 20 parts per trillion ppt. This bill is currently being held for further study.
The Consumer Confidence Reports for the last several years are available below.
Click on the report of your choice to view its contents.