UNREGULATED COMPOUNDS

 

A message from Water Director Jing Luo:

The Town of Marana Water Department is dedicated to providing high-quality water services to our customers. On June 15, 2022, EPA released interim drinking water health advisories for PFAS which are significantly lower than the existing levels.  Due to this recent change, additional Marana Water wells may be impacted. The interim health advisories for PFAS compounds are not final. We anticipate more changes to come in the coming year. 

At Marana Water, we take a steady and proactive approach to continue delivering the highest quality water possible to the community.  Currently, no action by municipal water utilities is required. Nevertheless, Marana Water staff is acting on the following:

  • Volunteer-based monitoring of water quality. This is not a required action, but the Town of Marana has been doing this as part of our regular operations since 2017 and will continue to do so.

  • Work closely with the water quality testing lab to explore reliable ways to determine the feasibility of testing PFAS-related substances at the much lower concentrations.

  • Constantly monitoring the regulatory movements of EPA and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).

  • Actively seeking financial assistance from state and federal sources.

For more information on the unregulated compounds, please see below:

 

PFAS FAQ:

WHAT IS PFOA AND PFOS? HOW IS IT USED?

PFOA and PFOS are part of a larger group of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) that were widely used in commercial products. They have a strong ability to repel other compounds so they were commonly used as stain protection on fabrics and clothing, non-stick cookware, furniture protection, paper food packaging protection (i.e. microwave popcorn bags, to-go food containers, etc.), as well as in firefighting foams. Most of the companies that use these compounds have phased out their use over the last ten years. However, because the compounds are highly stable and resistant to breakdown, they are commonly still found in the environment. 

 HOW CAN PFOA AND PFOS IN THE WATER AFFECT MY HEALTH?

The USEPA is continually testing and researching the likelihood that these compounds can be harmful in drinking water. While the research continues, the USEPA has established a lifetime health advisory of 70 parts per trillion for combined concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in order to protect the most sensitive populations:  fetuses during pregnancy and breastfed and/or formula-fed infants. Those included in the sensitive populations who consume water from a water system that has shown PFAs levels greater than the health advisory, you may want to take steps to limit or avoid consumption of water directly from the tap. While the department works on the next steps to address this issue, you may be able to treat water at home to reduce the levels of these compounds. 

WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE MY EXPOSURE TO PFAS?

With respect to PFAs, there are two types of treatment that have shown to be somewhat effective in reducing or eliminating these compounds from the water. These treatments are activated carbon and reverse osmosis. Activated carbon filters are relatively common and can be found at most grocery stores and home improvement stores. Examples of these devices are filtering water pitchers and in-line refrigerator filters. Use of these devices has shown a positive effect in reducing or eliminating PFAs, as well as others. Here is a link to a study using University of Arizona research showing the effectiveness of a few of these devices.  All in home treatment devices require consistent maintenance and care in order to remain effective. 

more RESOURCES:

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Sybstances (PFAS) definition
Sources and causes
Drinking water Contaminants Standards
PFAS Fact Sheet
Contact the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFOA and PFOS
Questions and Answers: Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFOA, PFOS, GenX Chemicals and PFBS

 

WHAT IS IMPACTED BY THIS NEW INTERIM HEALTH ADVISORY LEVEL?

(click maps to enlarge)

Use the map below to check the water quality of your residence:

 

1,4 - Dioxane

WHAT IS 1,4-DIOXANE? HOW IS IT USED?

1,4-dioxane is solvent stabilizer that is commonly used with other chemicals and products such as paints and waxes. It is also found in many regular household items such as shampoos, colognes, perfumes, and even some food products.

HOW CAN 1,4-DIOXANE IN THE WATER AFFECT MY HEALTH?

Toxicological studies have yet to positively prove 1,4-dioxane is carcinogenic. However, the EPA is currently studying the effects of 1,4-dioxane in drinking water. They currently believe it is "likely" to cause cancer with long term exposure, though not definitive. The current guideline for drinking water is on a calculated risk potential that a person may have a one in one million chance for a health affect after drinking 2 liters per day for 70 years of water that is at or above a concentration of 0.35 ppb.

WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE MY EXPOSURE TO 1,4-DIOXANE?

Since it is so widely used in common household products, people are exposed to 1,4-dioxane in many areas of their lives.  Review the list of compounds included in personal care and household products to identify if they contain any of the following words: PEG, Polyethylene, Polyethylene Glycol, Polyoxyethylene, -oxynol, -eth. Exposure to 1,4-dioxane can often be associated with the use of personal care products that contain these types of ingredients.

QUICK LINKS FOR 1,4-DIOXANE

1,4-dioxane Fact Sheet

If you would like to contact the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) regarding unregulated compounds, click here