WA’s public water systems would need $1.6 billion for initial PFAS cleanup, state officials say

The Environmental Protection Agency announced the first national drinking water standard for six so-called forever chemicals Wednesday, a change that could cost Washington public water utilities an estimated $1.6 billion, according to state officials.

The EPA’s legally enforceable limits for two of the most persistent of these chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, are set at 4 parts per trillion, which is less than half the advisory levels that were put in place by Washington state in 2021. The EPA is also setting a nonenforceable goal of zero, which the agency says reflects the latest science that shows there is no level of exposure to these contaminants without risk of health effects, including certain cancers.

The state Department of Health anticipates about 10% of all public water systems in the state have levels of the chemicals exceeding the new federal limit. More money would be needed for ongoing maintenance after an initial cleanup, state officials said.

The chemicals removed from water systems through filtration still need to be disposed of, according to the Department of Health. The state’s cost estimate does not cover disposal.

So far, the chemicals have been detected in 253 water systems in Washington state, but that doesn’t include thousands of households who drink from private wells, or those that serve 15 or fewer households, which are not subject to state or federal testing requirements.

The new limits on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are intended to make the water safe enough for someone who might drink from the same water source over the course of a lifetime. But the substances’ removal is an expensive undertaking that involves the installation of large filtration systems or finding a new water source altogether.

PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they take centuries to break down. They have been manufactured since the 1950s by 3M, DuPont and others. They’ve been used in training sessions and for practical uses across the country by local fire stations and military bases to extinguish high-intensity fires. The chemicals have also been used to create everyday items like nonstick pans, fast food packaging and waterproof clothing and mascaras.

PFAS have been found in the blood of polar bears and 98% of Americans and is linked to several health disorders, like cancer.

“Those chemicals now contaminate virtually all Americans from birth,” said Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy group that has spent decades advocating for tighter restrictions on the use of the chemicals. “That’s because for generations, PFAS chemicals slid off of every federal environmental law like a fried egg on a Teflon pan.”

The Biden administration also announced $1 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states and territories fund PFAS testing and response. The money is part of the $9 billion in dedicated funding to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants. The money will be awarded as grants and can be used to help people who rely on private wells and are not subject to the testing requirements, according to EPA officials.

State officials say it is unclear whether the $1 billion is new funding. From that money, $17.32 million was designated to Washington state, according to a news release from Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

The EPA estimates anywhere from 6% to 10% of the 66,000 public water systems across the U.S. will be affected by the rule change, but that number may change as more utilities test their systems.

Testing began in Washington under state action levels created in 2021, requiring Washington’s more than 2,430 public water systems to test for PFAS in drinking water by December 2025. Over 1,200 systems have been tested and 30 systems detected PFAS greater than the state advisory levels.

Some systems that have tested under the state requirements may have to complete additional testing to meet the new federal guidelines.

Washington state’s PFAS action levels will continue to be in place until the State Board of Health adopts the new federal limits, which could take up to two years.

For most drinking water rules, public water systems have three years to comply with a new limit. For this rule, public water systems will be required to complete initial monitoring for PFAS in their drinking water in three years.

Public water systems will also be required to inform residents of the levels of PFAS detected. Water systems that exceed the enforceable limits will have two additional years, five years total, to reduce exposure, like finding a new water source, or installing a filtration system.

Across Washington, well tests have returned high levels of the chemicals, from San Juan and Whidbey islands to the West Plains near Spokane and many communities near military bases, where firefighting foams containing the substances were used in training exercises for decades. The costs of finding clean water, either through securing a new water source or investing in a massive filtration system, have been in the millions.

In Lakewood, Pierce County, for example, the cost of a massive filtration system exceeded $5 million. And a neighborhood on San Juan Island received over $2 million from the state to help drill a new well.

The EPA now estimates the costs for public water systems to implement this regulation — either through installing filtration systems or drilling new wells — are approximately $1.5 billion per year. And the American Water Works Association estimates public water systems will incur compliance costs ranging from $253,000 to $51 million each year depending on system size.

Some environmental advocates argue the manufacturers of these chemicals should pay for the cleanup. Some money has already been obtained through lawsuits.

“That money that eventually comes out of those lawsuits should be big enough to cover the cleanup of the water so the taxpayers don’t have to foot the bill,” said Laurie Valeriano, executive director of Toxic Free Future. “Right now people are suffering and drinking contaminated water so the federal government does have to step in and the state government has to step in to make sure people have safe drinking water.”

For PFOA and PFOS, chemicals commonly found in firefighting foams, the limits of 4 parts per trillion is the technical level at which laboratories can be reasonably certain they have a true and valid result, according to Mike Means, of the state Department of Health. There are labs that can detect lower than that concentration but under EPA’s existing methods, that’s the number it selected, Means said.

The EPA previously found that there could be risks from these chemicals at levels far below 1 part per trillion.

For PFNA, PFHxS and “GenX chemicals,” the EPA is setting the limit at 10 parts per trillion. The new rule will require public water systems to monitor and reduce the levels of PFAS and notify the public when drinking water exceeds those levels.

“It is only six PFAS. There is still a gap there in terms of protections. We really need a way to deal with the entire class of PFAS,” Valeriano said. “Having a class-based approach for drinking water is what is rational, but not what is happening right now.”

It’s the first Safe Drinking Water Act standard for PFAS, and the first for any new contaminants since 1996. The rule comes after years of work by states and retailers to reduce exposure to the chemicals.

“One hundred million people will be healthier and safer because of this action,” said Michael Regan, administrator of the EPA, during a media briefing this week. “This action will prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses.”

Eleven states, including Washington, have established PFAS standards, with others in development. An additional 12 states have adopted guidance, health advisory or notification levels for certain PFAS chemicals. 

Over the next two years, states will have to adopt requirements no less stringent than those created by the EPA and apply for approval. The EPA will provide guidance to support states, territories and tribal nations.