In recent statewide testing, two water delivery systems in Nevada have been found to have elevated levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.”
These substances are prevalent in various commercial products such as cookware, cosmetics, and firefighting foam, raising concerns among water managers due to their links to serious health issues including cancer and thyroid problems.
Mitch Andreini, the general manager of the Canyon General Improvement District, explained the dilemma faced by his small water district, which serves approximately 1,400 residents in Lockwood, Storey County.
“There was nothing we could do,” Andreini stated. “It wasn’t like we had an asbestos factory producing brake pads or anything like that. PFAS is everywhere.”
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that it would be re-evaluating Biden-era limits for four out of six PFAS compounds.
As a result of this reevaluation, the deadline for water systems to comply with the new limits has been pushed back to 2031 from the previous 2029.
The Stampmill water system, which serves 45 households near Fernley, is another affected area under the oversight of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority.
Experts like Doug Sims, a dean at the College of Southern Nevada and the author of “Our PFAS Legacy: A Ticking Time Bomb We Can’t Escape,” believe the widespread presence of these chemicals should cause alarm.
Sims remarked, “It’s uncontainable at this point because it’s ubiquitous. It’s been around for 50 years, but we’re just beginning to realize it. If we don’t address it, like we addressed asbestos, lead-based paint or DDT, we’re going to have a lot of people potentially impacted health-wise.”
Recent tests revealed alarming results for PFAS levels, with readings as high as 9 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS compounds in the affected water systems, far exceeding the 4 parts per trillion limit.
Will Raymond, director of water quality at the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, noted the agency is currently exploring effective treatment options for the contaminated water.
A 2021 study found elevated levels of PFAS in both the Truckee River and the Las Vegas Wash, which raises ongoing concerns.
Raymond also revealed that one or two wells servicing the Reno area showed signs of PFAS contamination, although he emphasized that limited sampling indicates that these readings are not currently alarming.
He remains optimistic that one of the filtration systems under consideration will adequately address any issues present in contaminated wells.
“It’s a whole circle of stuff that we’re waiting on to make sure our customers don’t get saddled with those high costs,” Raymond explained. “But we’ll be fully compliant in time.”
However, many smaller water systems throughout rural Nevada are grappling with the significant financial challenges associated with addressing PFAS contamination.
For instance, due to the lack of state funding to cover daily operational costs related to new filtration systems, Andreini’s district has had to raise water rates from $45 to $108 per month to accommodate these expenses.
This flat rate includes the cost of up to 15,000 gallons of water, which, for a community primarily made up of retirees on fixed incomes, poses a considerable financial burden.
Andreini stated, “There’s certain people that are going to have a hard time paying for that, and we get that. It’s always tough, but we didn’t have a lot of choices here.”
In Lockwood, a product called DEXSORB is being piloted by a company named Cyclopure as a solution to the community’s PFAS issues.
The ongoing testing, funded by Cyclopure, has lasted nearly a year, as the community seeks to build out the necessary infrastructure to address the contamination.
Addressing PFAS has become a bipartisan issue with a history of collaboration across administrations.
In 2019, it was the Trump administration that initiated the EPA’s PFAS Action Plan, which continues to be recognized and supported under the Biden administration as they allocated millions to help Nevada and other states combat this issue.
Lee Zeldin, now leading the EPA in Trump’s second administration, has expressed ongoing concern about PFAS chemicals.
Last week’s announcement regarding the pushback on implementation, the maintenance of current limits on PFOA and PFOS, and the reconsideration of the other four compound limits received mixed reactions.
Some advocates argue that rolling back previous administration measures violates the Safe Drinking Water Act, while others view it as a pragmatic approach to address the ongoing problem more effectively.
Zeldin, during a congressional session, suggested that the new limits on the four PFAS compounds might end up being stricter than originally proposed.
“We are on a path to uphold the agency’s nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water,” Zeldin affirmed in his statement this month.
He added, “At the same time, we will work to provide common-sense flexibility in the form of additional time for compliance. This will support water systems across the country, including small systems in rural communities, as they work to address these contaminants.”
As statewide testing progresses, it is likely that more areas experiencing PFAS contamination will be identified, highlighting the urgency of this public health issue.
Andrea Seifert, head of the Nevada Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, noted the stability of their funding from the EPA amidst overall cost-cutting of many federally funded programs.
“Our program, right now, is really focused on trying to detect where those contamination situations are and start assisting with mitigation efforts,” Seifert stated.
For researchers like Sims, continuous testing and evaluation is essential.
PFAS, as describes Sims, has become an unavoidable part of daily life, stating, “What I would say is not to panic. Have faith in our government agencies that look at the protection of the environment. Because you can go to the grocery store and buy bottled water, but there’s probably PFAS in it. You can’t get away from it at this point.”
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