PFAS & Your Water
PFAS, short for per-and poly- fluroalkyl substances, are a group of compounds used in a variety of industrial processes and in everyday products to increase resistance to water, grease, and stains. PFAS can be found in carpet, clothing, furniture fabric, food packaging, cookware, some firefighting foams, and other materials. This family of compounds has been around for decades, accumulating in the environment—including drinking water sources. There is no known active industry in the watersheds that feed our reservoirs.
Our mission is to protect public health and the environment. Our dedication to doing what is best for our customers means we are following available science and new technology while ensuring we are making sound investments for our community’s future. Our commitment to each of you is to share what we know and to move forward without delay to reduce PFAS in your water.
OWASA began monitoring PFAS in drinking water in 2018. We use powdered activated carbon (PAC) in our treatment process to reduce compounds that affect the taste and odor of drinking water. The PAC also removes some PFAS compounds during treatment. Our data taught us that our drinking water treatment process was already reducing some PFAS compounds. To further reduce PFAS, our Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant (WTP) substituted a different PAC in winter 2023. While we expect that the new PAC will provide further reductions, it will take installing an additional treatment process at the Jones Ferry Road WTP to meet our goals.
We have begun pilot testing and designing a combination of treatment technologies for addition at our Jones Ferry Road WTP. We expect to find a technology or combination of technologies that will reduce PFAS levels to meet our goals. After pilot testing and design work, we will begin construction, which is expected to be complete in three to five years.