PFAS: National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, Occurrence, Analytics, and Risk Communications Webinar
- Watch the webinar recording (September 24, 2024)
- Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar Series
About the Webinar
This extended webinar includes talks from the 21st Annual EPA Drinking Water Workshop held in September 2024. Presentation summaries and speaker bios are provided below.
1. PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation: Initial Monitoring Requirements and EPA-State Implementation Workgroup
As the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation was being finalized in April of 2024, OGWDW initiated an EPA-State Implementation Workgroup to collaborate on the development of implementation products. The workgroup consists of 11 states and territories, all 10 EPA regions and ASDWA. The charge for the workgroup is to identify and prioritize needed PFAS implementation products, including training, and provide input and review of these products. Early focus for the workgroup has been on products to support the development of primacy revision application packages and extension agreements, and requirements for initial monitoring. The presentation will close by discussing the initial monitoring products highlighting the PFAS rule requirements, and flexibility to help ensure successful completion of this requirement by the start of compliance monitoring in April of 2027.
James Hogan, Ph.D., EPA Office of Water. James is a physical scientist with EPA’s Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water. He has over 20 years of experience working on a variety of hydrology and water quality environmental issues from both the academic and public sectors. His current work is focused on improving EPA oversight of state primacy agencies and working with regional staff to ensure effective implementation of National Primacy Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR), with a present focus on the PFAS NPDWR.
2. EPA Drinking Water PFAS Analytical Methods and the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation
Recently, U. S. governments at various levels have proposed or implemented regulatory programs for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminants in drinking water, including the April 2024 U.S. EPA release of the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR). To meet these regulatory compliance requirements, laboratories must use analytical methods that can accurately and precisely measure PFAS. The development of these analytical methods includes quantitation of PFAS at concentrations that meet the needs of the regulatory programs and also attempting to minimize burden and sources of error associated with the methods while still meeting quality control criteria appropriate for drinking water methods. The U.S. EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) and Office of Research and Development (ORD) have a history of drinking water analytical method development for both regulated and unregulated contaminants, including the PFAS EPA Methods 533 and 537.1. This presentation focuses on these EPA PFAS drinking water analytical methods and their use within the recently promulgated final PFAS NPDWR.
William Adams, Ph.D., EPA Office of Water. Will is a chemist with EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water. His work involves drinking water analytical method development and technical support, the Drinking Water Alternate Test Procedure Program evaluating new and updated drinking water methods for regulatory compliance monitoring, and the UCMR program as a technical and analytical method resource. He has 17 years of research experience in analytical method development for drinking water contaminants with a focus on LC-MS/MS.
3. Implementing a Proactive PFAS Program Using "Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities" Grant Funding
Through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (ES-SDC) Grant Program, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is assisting communities with cost-effective, appropriate and sustainable approaches for removing PFAS from drinking water. These may include well rehabilitation or a new water source, interconnection or consolidation, or, as a last resort, treatment. To further assist small or disadvantaged communities receiving this assistance, ADEQ is reducing barriers to utilize these funds by contracting directly with design engineers and construction contractors leveraging state contracts. This presentation will discuss these processes, lessons learned and the status of current projects funded through this grant. It will also provide an overview of future technical tools to be developed, including PFAS cost models and guidance on PFAS treatment residual disposal options, and information about where states can find these resources for their own use.
Sara Konrad, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Sara joined the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in August 2023 to manage the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program. Previously, She was the senior program administrator with the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) where she managed grants and loans for drinking water and wastewater systems. Earlier in her career, Sara worked for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, monitoring streams and lakes in the Total Maximum Daily Load Unit and administering construction and municipal stormwater permits. Her career in water quality also took her to Minnesota where she was a compliance and enforcement officer in the construction stormwater program with the state’s Pollution Control Agency. From 1998 to 2000, she served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Kenya where she was assigned to the Ministry of Forestry. Sara holds an M.S. in watershed management from the University of Arizona and a B.S. in geology from the University of Wisconsin.
4. Broad-Spectrum PFAS Study to Characterize the Class of PFAS in California
The California State Water Resources Control Board, in collaboration with the U.S. EPA Regional Office of Research and Development, conducted a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) method comparison study to evaluate the presence of unknown PFAS that have been detected in California’s drinking water. The method comparison study included the collection of samples from nine public water supply wells. Samples were analyzed using a suite of broad-spectrum analytical techniques including adsorbable organic fluorine (AOF) by combustion ion chromatography (CIC) (AOF-CIC), extractable organic fluorine (EOF) by CIC (EOF-CIC), non-targeted analysis (NTA) using high-resolution mass spectrometry, and other techniques that are primarily available through academic partnerships. In addition to field sample analysis, the study evaluated the fate of analytical reference materials in AOF-CIC and EOF-CIC. This represented a range of organic fluorine compounds including ultrashort-chain, volatile, and cationic PFAS at various concentrations. The results of the study indicate that AOF-CIC captured a broad organic fluorine chemical space while also minimizing interference from inorganic fluorine compounds. The study also identified other analytical methods that are useful to further characterize PFAS chemical space in environmental samples. The results of this study support a multi-year effort to sample nearly 4,000 public water supply wells serving disadvantaged communities that will be analyzed for targeted PFAS, AOF-CIC, and supplemental analyses including NTA and ultrashort-chain PFAS. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a monitoring program for community public water systems that account for the class of PFAS and assess the health impacts of those PFAS not being removed by conventional treatment technologies.
Erica Kalve, California Water Resources Control Board. Erica serves as a senior engineering geologist and supervisor for the Pretreatment and Constituents of Emerging Concern Unit within the California State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Boards) Division of Water Quality. She has been working in the environmental field for over twenty years and has a broad range of experience evaluating and addressing contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including PFAS, in the environment. In her current role, she supports the implementation of statewide pretreatment programs and development of a statewide CEC monitoring and management plan. Erica holds a B.S. in geology from the University of California, Davis.
5. Communicating Risks and Engaging Communities on PFAS
This presentation will discuss how the Minnesota Department of Health has worked with public water systems, communities, and staff to support risk communication about PFAS in drinking water. Approaches and strategies used for public meeting planning, staff training, messaging, and education and outreach will be covered. The presentation will also touch on the resources developed to increase awareness and understanding among consumers on the contaminants, their levels in drinking water, and their health risks.
Alycia Overbo, Ph.D., Minnesota Department of Health. Alycia (ah-lee-see-uh) is the supervisor of the Communications and Strategic Initiatives Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health. In this role, she oversees planning, evaluation, and coordination of communications and emerging strategic initiatives for the Drinking Water Protection program. Alycia was a Peace Corps volunteer in Mozambique.