Colorado Publishes New Report on Statewide 2020 PFAS Sampling

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has published a new report about its 2020 PFAS Sampling Project. The report provides some background information about the project and shares results from voluntary sampling of 400 water systems, 15 firefighting districts, and 43 streams. The report shares key findings, displays graphics of the sample results, and provides information about follow up actions and additional state efforts to monitor for PFAS. Some of the key findings included:

• The state tested 18 PFAS chemicals with each sample and the most prevalent chemicals were PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFBS, PFHxA, and PFHpA with detections in greater than 20 percent of the samples. PFNA was detected in more than 10 percent of the samples.
• 34 percent of the drinking water systems that participated in the project had some level of PFAS chemicals in their drinking water.
• None of the treated drinking water tested was above the EPA’s health advisory level.
• High levels of PFAS were found at one fire district station.
• All of the samples taken from lakes and rivers had some detectable level of the chemicals.
• The data indicate that industrial entities that have permits to discharge wastewater into rivers and streams may play a large role in the buildup of the chemicals.

For more information, view the report here, and visit the CDPHE website.