Austin Water has released results from a year-long water quality testing initiative aimed at detecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the city’s drinking water. The testing was part of a nationwide effort by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to Austin Water, the results showed little to no detectable traces of PFAS, meaning no additional treatment is necessary at this time.
“This great news validates decades of work to protect and safeguard our water at its source,” said Austin City Manager, T.C. Broadnax. “Austin’s embrace of strong environmental protections to reduce pollution in the Highland Lakes has played a vital role in keeping our water supply safe and clean.”
The city benefits from long-standing environmental protections such as bans on pollutant discharge into the Highland Lakes and participation in Texas Commission for Environmental Quality’s Clean Rivers Program. These measures have helped minimize PFAS contamination.
“We’re proud of the precise sampling and testing our team conducted to detect trace amounts of PFAS. The results affirm our unwavering commitment to high-quality drinking water,” said Shay Ralls Roalson, Director of Austin Water. “We’ll continue to closely monitor the EPA’s research in this area as they determine future regulations surrounding PFAS.”
The testing began in October 2023 under the EPA’s Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, which required measuring levels of 29 specific PFAS chemicals over a 12-month period. The findings will inform future regulatory requirements for communities where PFAS levels are detected or exceeded.
Austin Water’s test results are publicly available on both the EPA website and Austin Water’s site. According to the EPA, PFAS are synthetic compounds used since the 1940s in various industries and consumer products. The agency is assessing their presence in drinking water to establish health risk guidelines.
Media representatives are invited to attend a briefing on these findings during the Water and Wastewater Commission meeting scheduled for December 4 at Waller Creek Center.
