The state’s largest regulated water utility says it is prepared to meet the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s final national drinking water standards for PFAS, or Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances – commonly referred to as forever chemicals.

Camden-headquartered New Jersey American Water serves nearly 2.9 million people in the Garden State.

PFAS are manufactured chemicals historically used in household products such as nonstick cookware, stain repellants, waterproofing and more. In March 2023, the EPA announced a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) that set Maximum Contaminant Levels for six PFAS found in drinking water (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and HFPO-DA). Then, in April, the EPA released its finalized NPDWR, which remained substantially unchanged from the proposed rule.

Standards mark a significant reduction from previous state-established levels (14 parts per trillion).

Some key aspects of the final NPDWR include:

• Maximum Contaminant Level Guidelines
  • Zero for PFOS and PFOA;
  • 10 parts per trillion for PFHxS, HFPO-DA and PFNA; and
  • Hazard index of 1 for a mixture of two or more PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and PFBS
• Maximum Contaminant Levels
  • 4 parts per trillion for PFOS and PFOA;
  • 10 parts per trillion for PFHxS, HFPO-DA and PFNA; and
  • Hazard index of 1 for a mixture of two more PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and PFBS

“As a company whose mission is rooted in safeguarding clean, reliable drinking water, we support the EPA’s efforts to protect public health,” said New Jersey American Water President Mark McDonough in an April 10 press release. “New Jersey American Water is well positioned to stay at the forefront of regulatory and monitoring PFAS strategies, building on our proactive capital planning, engineering upgrades and advanced water quality treatment capabilities throughout New Jersey since 2012.”

McDonough stressed the support of sound governmental policies that ensure compliance by all water utilities, while also protecting customers and communities from these costs.

“For this reason, we, along with American Water, are advocating for funds to help mitigate compliance costs from both those who created the problem through participation in multi-district litigation and government funding,” said McDonough. “We also believe that all water and wastewater utility providers, whether privately or municipally owned, should have equal access to any federal and/or state funding related to treating PFAS.”

Taking the lead

NJBIZ recently caught up with McDonough to discuss New Jersey American Water’s efforts to meet the final PFAS rule and more. He said things are going well at the organization.

“We continue to have good operations,” said McDonough. “We have a lot going on between the last service line program that the governor rolled out a few years ago. Now, dealing with this latest regulation change with regard to PFAS. So, things are very busy – in terms of strategizing how to deploy our capital and, of course, just normal operations – weather events. Mercifully, we had a pretty good winter. But it’s always the next event around the corner that you worry about.”

On PFAS, McDonough noted that New Jersey took the lead a few years ago in setting those aforementioned standards of 14 parts per trillion. He described the figure as a pretty strident level.

We pride ourselves on being forward thinking in terms of the deployment of capital for things that are clearly going to be coming into our bailiwick.
– Mark McDonough, New Jersey American Water president

This new rule would create a uniform standard nationwide.

“We pride ourselves on being forward thinking in terms of the deployment of capital for things that are clearly going to be coming into our bailiwick,” McDonough explained. “That having been said, the EPA standard is significantly lower – so we are going to alter or enhance the treatment that we already have in place or put treatment in place in some areas where we had previously.

“Probably the biggest impact for us is the fact that, traditionally, you see these types of chemicals in groundwater – so, wells,” he continued. “But because the standard is at a level, it actually implicates surface water – sort of, rivers and lakes and reservoirs. So, we are currently looking – we have seven surface water plants. And we are doing test pilot programs at all of those plants to determine if treatments needed and what the best type of treatment is.”

Industrial past

Asked if there forever chemicals are more prevalent in certain areas of the state, McDonough said there are some concentrations. However, he described it as a mixed bag throughout New Jersey.

“The state has a fairly industrial past,” said McDonough. “It’s an older Northeast state. It has some of the more intense areas, but they’re spread into different pockets. So, I couldn’t categorize them in one place or the other. One of the things we are keeping our eye on is that the number of smaller water systems already were facing big challenges with lead service line and other just climate variation and other things of that nature. This will be a real stress on those systems. Part of our thinking is not to simply make sure that our customers have safe, reliable water – but being prepared to step in and help other communities that may need supplemental water.”

Advocacy

He also stressed the advocacy efforts through the multidistrict litigation.

“We are advocating that the folks who put these chemicals into our society – that they should be responsible to help clean it up,” said McDonough. “We are also advocating with both the state and federal government to ensure that funds are available for both public and private water systems to take some of the burden off of customers. That having been said, we have a robust capital program, so we’re prepared to invest the money that we need to ensure that we can deliver safe, reliable, clean drinking water to our customers – at a reasonable price.”

The biggest message for customers, McDonough reiterated, is that New Jersey American Water meets or surpasses all standards.

“And we are well placed to continue to ensure that we meet the federal standard as it’s rolled out,” said McDonough. “We also would remind folks that these standards are long-term exposure standards. So, there’s not acute risk – as sometimes there are substances that are in the water that are immediate health risks.”

He explained that as the EPA and other regulators look at this issue, they view it as a long-term exposure.

“That’s why they give time to water purveyors to ensure that treatment is in place,” said McDonough. “But, as I said, we’re generally forward thinking. We’re generally out in front of these requirements before they come.”