BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Update on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Receive information on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).
Body
SUMMARY:
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) continues to track the emerging technical and regulatory issues related to a group of widely used but unregulated chemicals known as PFAS (short for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). PFAS are persistent in the environment and have known and suspected adverse health effects. This item provides background on PFAS and an update on local conditions.
Background
PFAS are a family of more than 7,000 chemicals found in many products that resist heat, oils, stains, and water. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are two common types of PFAS. Products manufactured with PFAS include non-stick cookware, food packaging, stain- and water-repellent fabrics, including clothing and carpets, and other products. They also were used in fire-fighting foam, a known source of groundwater contamination at airports and military bases.
PFAS have been called "Forever Chemicals" because they are extremely stable in the environment and in the human body, meaning that they do not break down and can accumulate over time. Health experts have identified PFOA as a possible carcinogen, and studies suggest PFAS exposure can cause other adverse effects.
Regulatory Status
State and federal lawmakers and regulators are moving toward stricter standards and guidelines for the detection, public notification, and treatment of PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. Currently, these compounds remain unregulated both at the federal and state level, with no maximum contaminant level established for drinking water. At both the federal and state level, non-enforceable health-advisory levels have been established; exceeding these health-advisory levels prompts certain state requirements and recommendations as des...
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