Austin Water has released the results of a year-long water quality testing initiative aimed at detecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in public drinking water. This effort is part of a broader Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) project to assess PFAS presence nationwide. The findings from Austin Water indicate minimal or non-detectable levels of PFAS in the city's drinking water, suggesting no immediate need for additional treatment measures.
The city’s water supply benefits from long-standing environmental protections, such as a ban on pollutant discharge into the Highland Lakes and participation by the Lower Colorado River Authority in Texas Commission for Environmental Quality’s Clean Rivers Program. Consequently, these lakes, which provide Austin's drinking water, are less affected by industrial activities that generate PFAS contaminants.
The testing process commenced in October 2023 under the EPA’s Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. This rule mandated drinking water providers like Austin Water to measure levels of 29 specific PFAS chemicals over four quarterly tests spanning one year. These results will inform future testing, treatment protocols, and regulatory standards for communities with detectable or excessive PFAS levels.
"Austin Water’s PFAS test results have been verified and are publicly available on the EPA website and at Water Quality Reports | AustinTexas.gov," according to a statement from the organization.
PFAS, commonly known as "forever chemicals," have been utilized in various industries and consumer products since the 1940s. The EPA is assessing their exposure through drinking water to offer guidance on potential health risks associated with different chemical concentrations. Although Austin Water does not produce PFAS during its treatment processes, these compounds can be found throughout the environment globally.
Members of the media are invited to attend a briefing on these test results at the upcoming Water and Wastewater Commission meeting scheduled for December 4 at Waller Creek Center in Austin. Austin Water staff will present findings and be available for interviews following the meeting.