A reusable water bottle held up to the sun.
TL/DR: There are particles in water all over the world which are harmful to the environment and the human body. With some intentional choices and proper water filtration, you can reduce your exposure to some of these harmful particles.
Updated April 25th, 2024 to include the EPA's first ever, legally-enforceable drinking water standard for PFAS.
Perhaps you recall the credit card commercial with the tagline “What’s in your wallet?” implying that your wallet (and your life) would be happier or more fulfilled if it contained the credit card they were advertising? Well, our question about what’s in your water relates what particles are not present in order to make your life happier because it’s healthier. Few of us likely realize the impact the microscopic composition of our water has on our lives and the environment as a whole.
In this post we will first explore a compelling reason why water filtration should be a higher priority in our collective awareness. Then, we will explore how the filtration systems which Hill Country Rainwater utilizes in our rainwater systems address the issue.
A Disclaimer
This is intended to be educational and to share some information we found when we were asked to look into PFAS by our fellow Rain Geeks with the hopes that getting the best info out to our customers will ease their anxiety about these chemicals.
It's never too late to learn! Adults learning from printed text and online sources.
This is not: a scientific dissertation on this emerging body of scientific inquiry; we're just doing our best to get some answers to questions that we've been asked.
With that aside, let’s take a look at what’s coming up in this post!
The issue
We came across an article about a recent study released from the Yale School of Public Health regarding “forever chemicals” and their effects on cancer cells. Perhaps you’re familiar with PFAS, but just in case you’re not, let’s take a quick moment for a refresher course.
Researcher looking through microscope.
What are PFAS?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency: “Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products for decades, and they continue to be used today. Certain PFAS, such as PFOA and PFOS, do not breakdown in the environment, can build up in living things, and can adversely impact human health and the environment.”
These chemicals are used in nonstick cookware (like the pan pictured), stain resistant carpeting and clothing, some food wrappers, and the flame extinguishing foam used by firefighters, among other products. As noted in the description above, these chemicals do not breakdown and end up in our global water supply. Sadly, according to a study published in Environmental Science and Technology, PFAS are also present in rainwater around the world in unsafe quantities. According to a study released in 2020 by the Environmental Working Group, an estimated “more than 200 million Americans could have the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS in their drinking water at a concentration of 1 part per trillion, or ppt, or higher.” (https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/study-more-200-million-americans-could-have-toxic-pfas-their-drinking) .
The takeaway here is that these chemicals are all around us, likely already coursing through our veins. Those who work with these types of chemicals or in plants have a higher exposure rate. Now the question is: what do these chemicals do?
What do PFAS do to the human body?
Drawing of human anatomy including skeletal, muscular, neurological, circulatory and respiratory systems.
We have established thus far that these “forever chemicals” are just about everywhere and in every body to varying degrees based on a variety of factors. An article on Euronews states: “Studies have found that 97 per cent of people in the US have detectable levels of forever chemicals in their blood.” (https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/02/04/forever-chemicals-in-tap-water-and-food-might-cause-cancer-to-spread-new-study-finds ) So, what’s the big deal?
We researched several reputable sources on the internet for what all of this means and there is a lot of information out there! If you’re into learning things for yourself, we definitely recommend checking out the Environmental Protection Agency website which has a wealth of information.
According to the EPA:
Current peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to:
Reproductive effects such as decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women.
Developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes.
Increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.
Reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections, including reduced vaccine response.
Interference with the body’s natural hormones.
Increased cholesterol levels and/or risk of obesity.
The study released by Yale School of Public Health examined how two different types of colorectal carcinoma cells responded to being soaked in a solution of different PFAS chemicals for up to seven days. “They observed increased cell motility with exposure and found metabolic changes that were consistent with cancer metastasis.” (https://ysph.yale.edu/news-article/yale-study-forever-chemicals-promote-cancer-cell-migration/)
Metastasis is when cancer cells move from one area of the body to another, which makes it much more challenging to treat. (https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/02/04/forever-chemicals-in-tap-water-and-food-might-cause-cancer-to-spread-new-study-finds)
Why did the authors of the study choose colorectal carcinoma cells ("CRC") you may ask. “Firefighters experience this type of cancer at higher rates than the general population and they are heavily exposed to PFAS at work. About 80% of CRC cases are thought to be related to environmental exposure of some kind.”
Firefighter gear on a fire truck.
Can We Get On To The Good News?
At Hill Country Rainwater, we don’t want to focus on the problems, rather, we direct our energy at solutions and actionable items. Let’s start by exploring how we’re exposed to PFAS.
How are we exposed to PFAS?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, you can be exposed to PFAS by:
Drinking water from PFAS contaminated municipal sources or private wells
Eating fish caught from water contaminated by PFAS (PFOS, in particular)
Accidentally swallowing or breathing contaminated soil or dust
Eating food produced near places where PFAS were used or made
Eating food packaged in material that contains PFAS
Accidentally swallowing residue or dust from consumer products containing PFAS such as stain resistant carpeting and water repellent clothing.
Fast food packaging can often contain PFAS.
How can we avoid exposure?
You can begin by checking labels on cleaning products, paints, varnishes, sealants and personal care products and cosmetics (such as shampoo, dental floss, nail polish, etc.) and not purchasing those products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. (https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/health-effects/exposure.html )
Perhaps you noticed that the first item on the list of exposure sources related to drinking water? That’s because, according to the EPA, exposures from PFAS contaminated drinking water are generally higher than exposure from today’s consumer products. Therefore, one of the most important and effective ways to reduce your exposure to PFAS is to filter your water!
Scientist performing experiments on different fluids.
The first step would be to find out whether or not your water source is contaminated.
Water Testing for All!
The EPA has some suggestions on their website: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/meaningful-and-achievable-steps-you-can-take-reduce-your-risk
Such as, checking with your local water utility to find out if PFAS are in your drinking water. Or, if you get your water from a private well, have it tested. You can call your local environmental or health agency to request a list of state-certified laboratories. Alternatively, you can consult the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Management System (https://lams.nelac-institute.org/ ) to find a laboratory which will test for PFAS.
Location, Location, Location
The Environmental Working Group published an online article January 23, 2020 which explained the history and issues of PFAS sampling and reporting across the United States. There’s no nationwide reporting regulation on PFAS content in public water systems, therefore, very few communities test for PFAS or release the results if they test. Also, the tests performed by the EPA were, according to the EWG, so limited as to not present the full picture on PFAS presence in public water systems. While PFAS are ubiquitous, according to the data collected by the EWG, the concentration varies by location.
For example, Austin Water Supply publishes an annual water report, including their testing for PFAS. The report for 2023 has not yet been published online, but in the 2022 report they reassure Austin water consumers that the water source, the Highland Lakes, has benefited from having “many decades-long environmental protections in place, including a ban prohibiting the discharge of pollutants. The risk of exposure to PFAS in drinking water here is much lower than other more industrialized jurisdictions.” They continue by stating that, of the six types of PFAS tested for, none were detected. For 2023, Austin Water Supply stated that they would test for 29 different PFAS in accordance with EPA guidelines.
When consulting the annual reports published on websites for the San Antonio Water Source and Wimberley Water Supply Corporation, no reference to PFAS was found. As we know from the EWG article referenced above, this doesn’t mean that PFAS aren’t present, just that they’re not required to be reported to the public. If you enjoy maps, the EWG has a current, interactive map which shows where PFAS have been detected and whether they are below, at or above proposed levels.
Based on this interactive map from EWG, only a few sites in central Texas have a PFAS contamination level above the proposed limit.
Understanding Filtration Options
If the results are concerning, or you’d like to be extra cautious, you can consider installing an in-home filtration system, of which there are several varieties. However, before we examine the filtration options, we need to better understand the chemicals themselves.
The Most Effective Filtration for Removing PFAS
According to the EPA, the water treatment systems which are the most effective at eliminating PFAS are:
activated carbon treatment
ion exchange resins and
high pressure membranes.
Activated Carbon Treatment - GAC
Activated carbon treatment is the most commonly used and has been the most studied process. As a highly porous material, activated carbon is an effective filtration surface because it provides ample space for contaminants to adsorb. It is most often used in a granular form called granular activated carbon or GAC. According to the Environmental Protection Agency: “GAC has been shown to effectively remove PFAS from drinking water when it is used in a flow through filter mode after particulates have already been removed.” This system works well on longer chain PFAS but not so well on those with shorter chains. We will explore this chain length aspect in greater detail shortly.
Ion Exchange Resins
Using Ion Exchange Resins, involves using positively and negatively charged anion resins to attract, as magnets do, the positive and negative ions of contaminants in water. The contaminants attach to the anion resins and are pulled from the water system. “Negatively charged ions of PFAS are attracted to the positively charged anion resins.” While this system is effective at removing a wider variety of PFAS, it is a more expensive system than the granular activated carbon systems.
High Pressure Membranes
This style of filtration includes nanofiltration or reverse osmosis. The water passes through a membrane at high pressure. Depending on the permeability of the membrane, more or less contaminants, minerals, etc. will be retained along with approximately 20 percent of the incoming water which becomes highly concentrated wastewater. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that this filtration system is perhaps better suited for homeowner use due to this wastewater creation which “could be disposed of more easily with less cause for concern” than if it were to be used to filter water for a larger community.
Hill Country Rainwater’s Filtration System - State of the Art Filtration and Sanitation
When installing residential or commercial rainwater harvesting filtration systems, the team of Hill Country Rainwater has a multi-filter system in order to remove as many contaminants as possible in order to provide our customers with the cleanest water we can. Filtration begins with a progressive media 50-5 Micron sediment filter which progressively removes smaller and smaller particles until it has removed everything 5 microns and larger (a "micron" is a metric measurement equivalent to 1/10000 of a millimeter - really small!). Immediately thereafter, the water flows through another 5 micron granular activated carbon filter where the PFAS is captured by the Activated Carbon. Finally, the water is sterilized by a UV bulb which kills any remaining harmful microbes.
[IMAGE OF HILL COUNTRY RAINWATER’S FILTER BOARD]
April 2024 Update: EPA Drinking Water Standards
Less than a month after this post was originally published, the White House announced "an additional $1 billion...to help every state and territory fund PFAS detection and treatment systems to meet the new standard." (The White House). In addition to setting limits for the amount of PFAS allowed in drinking water, the article from The White House also details other efforts being made in the fight against PFAS and their harmful effects such as protecting Firefighters, phasing out PFAS in food containers, testing for and cleaning up PFAS pollution, among other initiatives.
Thanks for sticking with us! If you’ve continued reading this far, we just want to thank you. The motto at Hill Country Rainwater is “Water Is Life” and we believe that water is an essential resource. We thank you for joining us on this Rain Geek exploration of PFAS and their impact and we hope that, at the conclusion of our journey together, you will not be discouraged or overwhelmed. On the contrary, we hope that you will join us as a fellow Rain Geek to seek the solutions and actions that we can perform now. Every little drop helps!
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