What Are The PFOA Levels In The Water In Livingston?

Press release from the Livingston Township:

March 21, 2022

What are PFAS and PFOA?

PFAS: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are an emerging group of omnipresent compounds that can be found in products treated to make them non-stick, notably food packaging, carpets, leather and apparel, textiles, paper and packaging materials, and non-stick cookware. It has spread throughout the environment and been found in soil and water.

PFOA: Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are the most common of these PFAS compounds and have been detected in drinking water sources. These compounds are ubiquitous in the environment and have been for many years.

Regulations Changed in 2021

In 2021 the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) enacted a limit for PFOA in 2021 of 14 parts per trillion (ppt), the most stringent limit in the country. They have enacted limits for other PFAS compounds as well, including a limit of 13 ppt for PFOS. The EPA and many other states do not currently have a limit for PFOA. The EPA health advisory for PFOA and PFOS combined is 70 ppt.

The Township has detected PFOA over the NJDEP limit in some wells and is currently in violation at four wells. The Township water did not suddenly change, but the regulations have.

New Quarterly Notice Available

Public notices regarding these violations were mailed to all customers in initially mailed in September 2021 and December 2021. Quarterly notices will continue to be distributed until treatment has been completed. The most recent quarterly notice was mailed in March 2022 and is available on our website: View March 2022 PFOA Notice (PDF)

Previous notices and additional information are available here.

The Township is committed to designing and constructing treatment at the affected well facilities as quickly as possible.

This press release was produced by the Livingston Township. The views expressed here are the author’s own.