Keeping Your Drinking Water Safe: What You Need to Know

Understanding PFAS in Drinking Water

You may have heard about PFAS in the news. These are human-made chemicals that have been used since the 1940s to make products resistant to water, stains, and heat. They are found in everyday items like cookware, cosmetics, food wrappers, and stain-resistant fabrics.

While PFAS chemicals have been widely used, some—like PFOA and PFOS—have been linked to potential health risks. Because of this, U.S. manufacturers stopped making them in the mid-2000s. However, they can still enter the environment through imported products and past industrial pollution.

How Do PFAS Affect Drinking Water?

The EPA estimates that only 20% of a person’s PFAS exposure comes from drinking water. The other 80% comes from everyday items like food packaging, non-stick cookware, and waterproof clothing. To reduce exposure, people can make changes in their daily habits, such as choosing PFAS-free products.

The EPA’s Proposed Limits on PFAS

The EPA is working on new national standards for certain PFAS in drinking water. The proposed limits are:

• PFOA: 4 parts per trillion (ppt)
• PFOS: 4 parts per trillion (ppt)
• Other PFAS (PFHxS, GenX, PFNA, and PFBS): Monitored using a Hazard Index, which evaluates their combined levels

Right now, the levels of these four PFAS chemicals in Statesville’s water do not exceed the EPA’s Hazard Index limit.

What This Means for You

We are committed to providing safe drinking water and will continue to monitor for PFAS and other contaminants. If you have concerns or want to learn more, check out our Consumer Confidence Report.