On April 10, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) issued new water quality standards for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ A local news article, citing analysis of state data, identified some of Sweetwater Authority’s (Authority) groundwater sources as having levels of contamination that would exceed the new federal PFAS standards. However, the article did not identify that these levels were only detected prior to treatment. Water from the identified groundwater wells is supplied to the Authority’s Richard A. Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility, which uses state-of-the-art reverse osmosis technology to treat the groundwater to drinking water safety standards. Reverse osmosis is a best available technology for PFAS removal. After treatment, PFAS is not detected in the water delivered to Authority customers.
In order to ensure that tap water continues to be safe to drink, the U.S. EPA and the California State Water Resources Control Board prescribe regulations that limit the level of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Authority complies with all monitoring and testing regulations to ensure the water delivered to customers meets all safety standards, and will continue to do so as new guidelines are released. The Authority will explore new technologies or monitoring methods necessary to comply with the new PFAS water quality standards.
Further analysis of the Authority’s surface water supply is expected this fall, and results, if required, will be reported as part of the Authority’s annual Consumer Confidence Report.
The Authority is committed to transparency in its water quality testing and treatment processes. To learn more about the measures the Authority takes to ensure the safety of its water supply, visit www.sweetwater.org/wq.