PFAS Drinking Water Sampling Project
- About
- Eligibility
- Consumer Notification
- Sampling Procedures
- Contacts
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
About
The PFAS PFAS, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. PFAS are found in a wide array of consumer and industrial products. PFAS manufacturing and processing facilities, facilities using PFAS in production of other products, airports, and military installations are some of the potential contributors of PFAS releases into the air, soil, and water. Due to their widespread use and persistence in the environment, most people in the United States have been exposed to PFAS. There is evidence that continued exposure above specific levels to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health effects. Tribal Drinking Water Sampling Project is a voluntary sampling effort that is offered to all public water systems (PWS) on tribal lands in EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region (Region 9). The goal is to provide tribal communities with information about PFAS presence in their drinking water sources and to provide training, technical assistance, and communication to support follow up actions. Sampling conducted under this project will be able to be used for initial monitoring requirements for PFAS in drinking water to meet the April 2027 deadline. EPA will provide all lab analysis, shipping, and technical assistance to support the sample collection.
EPA finalized a PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation in April 2024. To help communities on the front lines of PFAS contamination, EPA has grant funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address emerging contaminants in drinking water in tribal communities. EPA encourages Tribes to participate in this sampling project to better assess their drinking water sources for the presence of PFAS and be poised to take advantage of these funding opportunities. EPA has published standards for 6 PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, GenX Chemicals, PFHxS, PFNA and PFBS), including 5 MCLs and 1 Hazard Index.
Eligibility
All PWSs on tribal lands in EPA Region 9 are eligible for sampling.
If you represent an eligible PWS that would like to participate in the project, please contact your EPA Region 9 Tribal Drinking Water Program Manager for more information.
Consumer Notification
Once EPA Region 9 receives sample results for each system, we will forward those results to the primary contact. As part of the project, each Tribe and water utility will have the opportunity to confer with EPA on any detection and options for consumer notification, such as including the results in annual Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR).
Where contaminant levels in finished water (at the entry point) are above the published MCLs and/or Hazard Index, EPA will work with the Tribe and the water system staff to promptly notify the public. The consumer notice will disclose sample results to customers and include information on the health effects of the specific contaminant(s) found, what the water system is doing, and any action customers can take to reduce exposure.
Sampling Procedures
All shipping and sample analysis costs will be paid for by EPA. EPA’s Technical Assistance providers are available to assist utilities with sample collection and assistance to reduce exposure. Water operators and/or TA providers will collect the samples and ship them to the appropriate lab for analysis using EPA Method 533 for twenty-five (25) PFAS compounds.
Sampling will be conducted at all source water (raw or pre-treatment water) locations and entry points to the distribution system (finished water). In some cases, EPA may recommend that samples only be taken at the entry point. If PFAS are detected, follow-up samples will be offered at the associated source water locations and entry points of the detection.
Contacts
For questions about this sampling project, and how you can participate, please contact your EPA Region 9 Tribal Drinking Water Program Manager or Joi Chu-Ketterer at [email protected] or (415) 972-3803.
For questions about PFAS toxicity or health effects, please contact Patrick Wilson at [email protected] or (415) 972-3354
To discuss specific information about your water system, please contact your EPA program manager:
| Tribe | Program Manager |
|---|---|
| Hopi Tribe | Emma Young at [email protected] or (415) 972-3707 |
| Las Vegas Area, Northern Colorado River Area, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians | Annie Wan at [email protected] or (415) 972-3845 |
| Navajo Nation | Adam Ramos at [email protected] or (415) 972-3450 |
| Northern and Eastern Nevada | Karl Banks at [email protected] or (415) 972-3557 |
| Northern California, Havasupai Tribe, Hualapai Tribe | Ian Chinn at [email protected] or (415) 972-3418 |
| Phoenix Area, White Mountain Apache Tribe, Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona, Yavapai-Apache Nation | Bayla Fisher at [email protected] or (415) 972-3806 |
| Sacramento Area, Owens Valley, Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California | Joi Chu-Ketterer at [email protected] or (415) 972-3803 |
| San Carlos Apache Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation | Nate Delano at [email protected] or (415) 972-3776 |
| Ukiah Area, Fresno Area, Palm Springs Area | Jason Gambatese at [email protected] or (415) 972-3571 |
| Yuma Area, San Diego County | Greg Gholson at [email protected] or (415) 947-4209 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Has there been PFAS detected in drinking water near me?
- Where are drinking water samples taken for this project?
- Will samplers receive materials and training for sampling PFAS?
- Is EPA requiring that all tribal water systems be sampled for PFAS in drinking water?
- What public water systems (PWS) are eligible for sampling by EPA Region 9?
- What laboratory method will be used to analyze for PFAS in drinking water?
- If a water system detects PFAS in their drinking water, what is required to be done?
- What are the available PFAS treatment options?
- Will the results of the PFAS sampling be made public?
- How do I get my PWS sampled for PFAS?
- Who can I contact for more information?
Has there been PFAS detected in drinking water near me?
Within Region 9, there has been several PFAS sampling efforts in drinking water. The following are a list of publicly available PFAS drinking water monitoring data in Region 9.
- Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 3 & 5 (UCMR 3 & 5, 2013-2015, 2023-2025)
- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (2018)
- California State Water Resources Control Board (2019)
- Groundwater Ambient Monitoring & Assessment Priority Basin Project (GAMA-PBP, 2019-2020)
Where are drinking water samples taken for this project?
Most systems will initially have samples taken at all source water (raw or pre-treatment water) locations and entry points (finished water) to the PWS. In some cases, EPA may recommend that samples only be taken at the entry point to the distribution system. If PFAS are detected, follow-up samples will be offered at all source water locations and entry points to the distribution system that may have contributed to the detection. EPA will consult with the water system to determine appropriate sample locations.
Will samplers receive materials and training for sampling PFAS?
Yes. EPA will provide all sampling materials, including sample bottles, coolers, sample labels, and shipping labels at no cost. EPA’s technical assistance providers will provide PFAS sample collection training to water operators. They will also be available to assist the system with sample collection and shipment. We recommend that samples be collected in two-person teams. Samples will need to be shipped to the designated lab on ice. Samples are valid if any ice remains in the cooler when it is received at the laboratory or bottles are received within 2 days of collection and below 10°C.
Is EPA requiring that all tribal water systems be sampled for PFAS in drinking water?
Under the PFAS rule, systems have until April 2027 to complete initial monitoring. Samples taken under this voluntary project may be used for initial PFAS monitoring under the new rule. However, tribal water systems who wish to perform initial monitoring independent of Region 9’s sampling program may do so as well.
What public water systems (PWS) are eligible for sampling by EPA Region 9?
All public water systems on tribal land in Region 9 are eligible. PWSs will be sampled on a rolling basis.
What laboratory method will be used to analyze for PFAS in drinking water?
This project will use EPA Method 533 to analyze for 25 PFAS compounds in drinking water.
If a water system detects PFAS in their drinking water, what is required to be done?
If the finished water (entry point) results are detected above EPA MCLs and/or Hazard Index, participating water systems will agree to notify their consumers within 30 days or receiving results through a consumer notice. EPA will provide a consumer notice template that includes the results, information on the health effects of the contaminant(s) found and recommended action to protect public health.
Additionally, community water systems agree to report all detections of PFAS analytes in finished water that are at or above minimum reporting levels in their annual Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR). If PFAS analytes are detected in source water samples, we recommend those results also be included in the CCR. EPA will provide your water system with a draft CCR that includes all results and any applicable health advisories.
Non-community water systems will agree to notify consumers of all detections of PFAS analytes in finished water that are at or above minimum reporting levels of PFAS results through another mechanism. Consumer notification can include the posting of results in public locations or other appropriate options to be discussed with EPA. EPA will provide the water system a template for these communications.
What are the available PFAS treatment options?
EPA has developed a factsheet to inform water systems of available treatment options. If there are any questions about PFAS treatment for your system, please contact your EPA Region 9 Tribal Program Manager.
Will the results of the PFAS sampling be made public?
As part of EPA’s national PFAS efforts and in the interest of consumer transparency, EPA’s Office of Water plans to publish all PFAS sample results collected through this sampling project, along with similar projects in other regions, on a public-facing EPA website. However, Tribes and water utilities may request that their results be excluded from website publication. Please let your program manager know if you have any concerns about data confidentiality and to request that your results are excluded from website publication.
The website can be found at: Tribal PFAS Monitoring Results.
How do I get my PWS sampled for PFAS?
If your PWS is interested, we encourage you to communicate your interest to take part in this PFAS in drinking water sampling to your EPA Region 9 drinking water program manager.
Who can I contact for more information?
If you have additional questions about PFAS in drinking water, environmental health, or this project, please contact Joi Chu-Ketterer at [email protected] or (415) 972-3803.