Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Westerly Water Department
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. PFOA and other perfluorinated chemicals can cause serious health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, accelerated puberty, liver and immune system damage, and thyroid changes. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and they accumulate in people. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2015 | 1.43 ppt | 14 | 1 | ND - 20.0 ppt |
| 2016 | 9.28 ppt | 10 | 10 | 7.00 ppt - 15.0 ppt |
| 2017 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 2018 | 4.84 ppt | 9 | 7 | ND - 14.0 ppt |
| 2019 | 1.49 ppt | 10 | 3 | ND - 6.06 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.007 ppt
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.007 ppt for PFOA was proposed by California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 4 ppt
ppt = parts per trillion
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-03-30 | 3215838 | ND |
| 2015-03-30 | 3215885 | ND |
| 2015-03-30 | 3215805 | ND |
| 2015-03-30 | 3215894 | ND |
| 2015-03-30 | 3215796 | ND |
| 2015-03-30 | 3215787 | ND |
| 2015-03-30 | 3215828 | ND |
| 2015-09-16 | 3323884 | 20.0 ppt |
| 2015-09-16 | 3324204 | ND |
| 2015-09-16 | 3323686 | ND |
| 2015-09-16 | 3323709 | ND |
| 2015-09-16 | 3323740 | ND |
| 2015-09-16 | 3323875 | ND |
| 2015-09-16 | 3324034 | ND |
| 2016-06-14 | 3471360_PFOA | 7.00 ppt |
| 2016-06-14 | 3471358_PFOA | 7.10 ppt |
| 2016-06-14 | 3471357_PFOA | 8.50 ppt |
| 2016-06-14 | 3471356_PFOA | 9.40 ppt |
| 2016-06-14 | 3471359_PFOA | 7.40 ppt |
| 2016-10-03 | 3557787 | 8.70 ppt |
| 2016-10-03 | 3557789 | 10.00 ppt |
| 2016-10-03 | 3557785 | 12.0 ppt |
| 2016-10-03 | 3557788 | 15.0 ppt |
| 2016-10-03 | 3557786 | 7.70 ppt |
| 2018-11-28 | 4135628 | 5.50 ppt |
| 2018-11-28 | 4135617 | ND |
| 2018-11-28 | 4135623 | 2.70 ppt |
| 2018-11-28 | 4135621 | ND |
| 2018-11-28 | 4135619 | 5.20 ppt |
| 2018-12-07 | 4135627 | 6.60 ppt |
| 2018-12-07 | 4135625 | 14.0 ppt |
| 2018-12-11 | 4135630 | 6.70 ppt |
| 2018-12-11 | 4135632 | 2.90 ppt |
| 2019-05-23 | 1902136-09_TO20 | ND |
| 2019-05-23 | 1902136-05_TO20 | ND |
| 2019-05-23 | 1902136-08_TO20 | 6.06 ppt |
| 2019-05-23 | 1902136-06_TO20 | ND |
| 2019-05-23 | 1902136-02_TO20 | 4.46 ppt |
| 2019-05-23 | 1902136-03_TO20 | 4.41 ppt |
| 2019-05-23 | 1902136-01_TO20 | ND |
| 2019-05-23 | 1902136-07_TO20 | ND |
| 2019-05-23 | 1902136-11_TO20 | ND |
| 2019-05-23 | 1902136-04_TO20 | ND |