Galesburg’s water supply has tested above a guidance benchmark for one of four Polyfluoroalkyl Substances or PFAS.
Neither the Illinois EPA nor the U.S. EPA has yet developed enforceable drinking water standards for PFAS.
However, the Illinois EPA has developed “Draft Guidance Levels” for the small number of PFAS for which there is appropriate information to do so.
Draft Guidance Levels are intended to be protective of all people consuming the water over a lifetime of exposure
Currently, the EPA is gathering data in all the states in order to be able to determine a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and treatment options.
As part of that process, the City of Galesburg was notified in September 2020, that the Illinois EPA (IEPA) would be testing community water supplies in Illinois. Samples were taken from Galesburg in November, with follow-up samples collected in December.
The City was notified last Wednesday that the two water samples that were collected at the Water Treatment plant exceeded the proposed Draft Guidance for one of the two PFAS.
The City says in response they are taking immediate action to inform consumers, initiate monitoring, and evaluate options to reduce exposure levels.
So far, about 25% of the nearly 1,400 community water supplies in Illinois have been tested, and of those tested thus far, 14 have exceeded the draft guidance level for at least one of the PFAS categories.
Galesburg Director of Public Works Wayne Carl says water division personnel and the City are adapting to all new regulations to maintain safe drinking water for the community. He adds, “The recent release of draft guidance levels of PFAS by the EPA gives a goalpost to shoot for, a tool we did not have prior to the test results received in January.”
Citizens concerned about exposure to PFAS in drinking water can minimize the risks by utilizing bottled water that has been tested for PFAS or installing filters or treatment systems.
The City will inform consumers of sample results by distributing a letter and PFAS Fact Sheet to all City of Galesburg water customers. This week, the city will begin quarterly testing of all raw water sources and finished water for PFAS.
