Round Hill Receives Initial PFAS Testing Results
Round Hill, Virginia – May 16, 2024
On April 10, 2024 the EPA announced final national primary drinking water standards for six types of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane-sulfonic acid (PFHxS), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA or GenX chemicals), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The standard also establishes a hazard index (HI) for a mixture of two or more of the following: PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS).
According to the EPA, public water systems have five years (by 2029) to implement solutions that reduce these PFAS if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed these MCLs. The Town of Round Hill Utility Department will ensure that the Round Hill Water System meets these standards. Round Hill will continue to champion source water protection and support local, state, and national efforts to prevent these compounds from entering the Greater Round Hill Area Watershed.
Water utilities are passive receivers of PFAS compounds, which are used in firefighting foam, industrial processes, and consumer products. Most humans are exposed to PFAS through food and consumer products while drinking water makes up a small portion of their total exposure. Peer-reviewed studies show that exposure to elevated levels of PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes in humans.
Due to decades of use, PFAS are everywhere in the environment. Industrial sites might release PFAS into the water or air. Consumer and household products containing PFAS enter landfills and are washed down the drain. Because of their chemical composition, PFAS do not break down naturally and can be found throughout the environment in surface water, groundwater, air, and soil. They build up in the environment over time, eventually entering our bodies through food and drinking water.
Round Hill has completed raw water tests of all 13 of the Round Hill Wells. Only two wells returned samples slightly over the MCL. These two wells are under review for operational changes to minimize PFAS levels and to install additional treatment equipment.
Round Hill is evaluating treatment processes to upgrade or rehab facilities to ensure the Round Hill Water System will meet the federal PFAS standards. Round Hill will be working with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to put new processes in place and to apply for funding. The Town is also joining the class action lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers.
For more information about PFAS:
Visit VDH’s website at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/pfas
Visit EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/pfas