The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released information about its final rule setting drinking water standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on April 10, 2024. PFAS are persistent synthetic compounds used in a variety of industrial and consumer product applications including non-stick cookware and firefighting foams.
In anticipation of this regulation, City of Grand Junction staff conducted PFAS testing of the local watershed in both 2022 and 2023 under a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) grant program. Results from this testing did not detect any of the PFAS being regulated. The city utilities department will begin the three-year monitoring period required by the new regulation and expect results will be below maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) based on the results of earlier testing.
The presence of PFAS compounds in source water and drinking water is of increasing public concern due to their widespread use and environmental persistence. The EPA rule finalizes the MCLs of 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) for both perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).