New GenX Update & What It Means For YOU

June 16, 2022

The EPA has issued Lifetime Drinking Water Health Advisories for Four PFAS chemicals.

Health advisories provide technical information that federal, state, and local officials can use to inform the development of monitoring plans, investments in treatment solutions, and future policies to protect the public from PFAS exposure. These are guidelines, not an enforceable standard.

In regards to GenX, the EPA had previously set the state’s provisional drinking water health goal at 140 parts per trillion (ppt). They have set a final lifetime health advisory level of 10 parts per trillion in yesterday’s press release.
  • The Consent Order requires Chemours to provide whole house filtration for private drinking water wells with Gen-X concentrations that fall within the new health advisory.
  • The DEQ estimates that more than 1700 additional private well users will now be eligible for whole house filtration or connection to a public water supply.
  • DEQ has sent a letter to Chemours directing them to proceed with the implementation of the health advisory and additional information to be provided to residents regarding their options and next steps as soon as possible
Additionally, the EPA issued an interim updated health advisories of 0.004 ppt for PFOA and 0.2 ppt for PFOS, with a minimum reporting level of 4 ppt.
These updated advisories replace the 2016 health advisory of 70 ppt for both compounds.
  • According to the EPA, there is an increased risk of adverse health effects, including effects on the immune system, the cardiovascular system, human development, and cancer, when drinking water with these compounds above the health advisory over a lifetime.
  • The EPA recommends that water systems that measure any levels of PFOA or PFOS to take steps in informing customers, undertaking additional sampling to assess the levels, scope and source of the contamination, and to examine steps in limiting exposure.
  • The EPA is not recommending bottled water or providing alternative water sources.
This is still a developing situation. We expect to hear more from Chemours and DEQ about the full house filtration program and more about PFOA and PFOS.

The DEQ is working to update their websites and other resources with the newly released information. They are also in the process of planning and scheduling community hearings to allow residents to have their questions answered.

You can read DEQs recent Press Release here for more information and you can find the EPAs new recommendations here.

The Cumberland County Delegation attended a GenX update with DEQ and Secretary Biser on the morning of June 16th, 2022. You can view the joint Press Release here.