Pacific Southwest EPA Initiative for PFAS Contamination Testing in Tribal Drinking Water Sources

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a new initiative aimed at assessing the presence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water sources for tribal communities in the Pacific Southwest. The project, known as the Tribal Drinking Water Sampling Project, is a voluntary sampling effort offered to all public water systems (PWS) on tribal lands in EPA's Region 9.

For questions about this sampling project, and how to participate, contact the EPA Region 9 Tribal Drinking Water Program Manager, Stacey J. Craig for the Hopi Tribe, or Joi Chu-Ketterer for general inquiries. You can reach Joi at chuketterer.joi@our website or by phone at (415) 972-3803.

If your PWS is interested in taking part in this PFAS in drinking water sampling, communicate your interest to your EPA Region 9 drinking water program manager.

The sampling will be conducted using EPA Method 533 to analyze for 25 PFAS compounds in drinking water. EPA will provide all sampling materials at no cost, as well as lab analysis, shipping, and technical assistance to support the sample collection.

Once EPA Region 9 receives sample results for each system, they will forward those results to the primary contact. Participating water systems will agree to notify their consumers within 30 days of receiving results if PFAS levels are above EPA's published Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and/or Hazard Index.

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. 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.

For additional questions about PFAS in drinking water, environmental health, or this project, contact Joi Chu-Ketterer. If you have questions about PFAS toxicity or health effects, contact Patrick Wilson.

The PFAS, a group of synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s, are found in various consumer and industrial products. Potential contributors of PFAS releases include manufacturing and processing facilities, facilities using PFAS in production, airports, and military installations. Most people in the United States have been exposed to PFAS due to their widespread use and persistence in the environment.

Continued exposure above specific levels to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health effects. If contaminant levels in finished water 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.

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 grant funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to address emerging contaminants in drinking water in tribal communities. EPA's Technical Assistance providers are available to assist utilities with sample collection and assistance to reduce exposure.

All shipping and sample analysis costs will be paid for by EPA. The goal is to provide tribal communities with information about PFAS presence in their drinking water sources and to offer training, technical assistance, and communication to support follow-up actions. To discuss specific information about your water system, contact your EPA program manager, whose contact information is listed in the table provided.

Community water systems will report all detections of PFAS analytes in finished water that are at or above minimum reporting levels in their annual Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR). Non-community water systems will notify consumers of all detections of PFAS analytes in finished water that are at or above minimum reporting levels through another mechanism.

EPA's Office of Water plans to publish all PFAS sample results on a public-facing EPA website, but Tribes and water utilities may request that their results be excluded from website publication. 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).

For more information about PFAS drinking water monitoring data in Region 9, you can refer to EPA's published list, which includes data from the 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), and Groundwater Ambient Monitoring & Assessment Priority Basin Project (GAMA-PBP, 2019-2020).

The EPA is committed to ensuring the safety of drinking water for all communities, and this initiative is a significant step towards achieving that goal for tribal communities in the Pacific Southwest.

Pacific Southwest EPA Initiative for PFAS Contamination Testing in Tribal Drinking Water Sources