Laserfiche WebLink
drinking water provided to consumers, DDW recommends that the water agency remove the <br />water source from service. <br />In California 455 public water systems have tested for PFOA and PFOS. Of those, eight <br />systems reported exceedances of the 70 ppt level for either PFOA, PFOS or both combined. <br />These systems either have taken steps to treat their water to a level below the health advisory <br />or have taken the water source out of service. <br />Part of a family of chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl substances, PFOA and PFOS were <br />routinely used in grease -proof coatings for food packaging; stain -resistant coatings for carpets, <br />clothing and furniture; and as an ingredient in coatings for not -stick cookware. In addition, <br />these compounds have also been used in fire -retarding foams and various industrial <br />processes. <br />While consumer products are a large source of exposure to these chemicals for most people, <br />drinking water has become an increasing concern due to their persistence in the environment <br />and tendency to accumulate in groundwater. Groundwater contamination is typically localized <br />and associated with an industrial facility where these chemicals were manufactured or used in <br />other products, or airfields which used the chemicals for firefighting. <br />For more information on the work the State Water Board's Division of Drinking Water is doing <br />in tracking voluntary monitoring and reporting by public water systems with these two <br />compounds, please visit a resource page found here. <br />M. <br />19E-32 <br />