Throughout New England and across the nation, state and local officials, health departments, and water utilities, including Aquarion, have focused their attention on a group of man-made chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have been detected in drinking water. PFAS are widely used in consumer products (e.g. nonstick cookware, stain-resistant carpets) and have numerous industrial applications (e.g. firefighting foam). PFAS are pervasive and persistent once released into the environment.
On April 10, 2024, the US EPA released the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for the following 6 PFAS Compounds: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), Perfluorononoctanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), and Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, aka GenX Chemicals). Although not required to meet the new PFAS maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) specified in the NPDWR until 2029, Aquarion has already begun working to meet these national standards.
Explore below to learn more about PFAS.
