Toxic chemicals found in Annandale drinking water
According to the D.C.-based Environmental Working Group (EWG), Annandale zip code 22003 has the highest levels of toxic PFAS (per- and polyfluorakyl) chemicals in Fairfax County
The EWG tested tap water at 19 locations in Northern Virginia at private residences, commercial establishments, and parks.
The testing site in the 22003 zip code had the highest level in the county and the second-highest level of PFAS in Northern Virginia, with 57.56 parts per trillion (ppt). The highest level (62.4 ppt) was found in zip code 22025 in Prince William County. The EWG isn’t identifying the specific locations where the samples were taken.
PFAS are used in many kinds of products, including carpet, Teflon cookware, paint, cleaning products, and firefighting foam. They are used to make material water or stain resistant.
These chemicals are harmful to humans, and very small doses have been linked to cancer, increased cholesterol levels, thyroid problems, and low infant birth weights.
EWG calls PFAS “forever chemicals” because they build up in the body and never break down in the environment.
The Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t regulate PFAS but recommends PFAS levels in water should be below 70 ppt. The PFAS found in Northern Virginia are below that, but the EWG believes the threshold should be much lower – at 1 ppt. The Natural Resources Defense Council recommends 2 to 7 ppt.
“There is no monitoring, for the most part, required right now,” EWG analyst Sidney Evans told WUSA9. “There is no treatment required. That’s the drinking water we have; we need to protect it. This is going to continue to be an increasing problem.”
According to the EWG, higher PFAS levels were found in tap water from the Occoquan Reservoir than in drinking water originating in the Potomac River.
The EWG suggests residents concerned about forever chemicals in the water supply should use a reverse osmosis household water filter.
Fairfax Water insists “the quality of drinking water is excellent.” An email from Fairfax Water spokesperson Susan Miller states: “Fairfax Water prides itself on not just meeting but surpassing the drinking water standards set by both the Virginia Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency.”
Miller says the PFAS found in water samples from Northern Virginia are at very low levels, and “there is no immediate health concern due to the presence of these chemicals.”
“Research is ongoing at the state and federal level as to how and if these chemicals should be regulated in drinking water,” she says. “We will take necessary actions to meet future state and federal regulations when they are established.”
Testing by Fairfax Water didn’t find any PFAS, but that test only looked for six chemicals, while the EWG tested for 30.
A follow-up tweet from Fairfax Water says the Virginia Health Department is working on a statewide sampling plan for PFAS, and “we will follow their guidance once sampling plans are announced.”
10 responses to “Toxic chemicals found in Annandale drinking water”
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This is alarming! One more dismal report for zip code 22003 — I wonder why I have stayed here this long!! Not only do we pay high taxes, get very little support from our so-called supervisor, always have fewer upgrades that any of our neighbors, but now we learn that our drinking water is contaminated with toxins that are linked to cancer! And fairfax county in response says we are not to be concerned. I have heard that one before.
And we weren't the only zip code with high levels of these chemicals. Where is our Board of Supervisors on this? Oh, that's right, they are out selling their developer friendly policies like zMOD and making deals with the developers to build more density and stress our fragile environment further. Remember their campaign promises to protect our environment? Why aren't they protecting US? They should put some of the funds they use to pay for their pricey consultants to fix this little problem.
There's nothing more important than the water we drink! This is so pathetic!! and scary!
And if you are on well water and want to connect to Fairfax County Water Authority municipal water they charge a $25,000 hook up fee and you must pay to run the water line from the street to your house. We'll stick with our well water which tastes better and is probably healthier.
The Virginia Cooperative Extension Service has a program to test water from wells every year through Virginia Tech. I would utilize this resource. Also, here is a recent letter from a water expert to the BOS regarding septic/well under the proposed zMOD Ordinance that might be helpful on the http://www.ACT4fairfax.net : https://8cbe489d-353c-4fed-b046-0087016ae52e.filesusr.com/ugd/180807_0d9d0b01d997481285b998c36c006c94.pdf
Might the PFAs be associatd with the water storage tanks located at Cindy Lane near Poe Middle School?? Interestingly, these tanks are currently being reconditioned – repaired, stripped of old deteriorating paint, and repainted — by the Fairfax County Water Authority. These massive on-ground tanks provide water for a large portion of eastern Fairfax County. I am not sure where water is pumped from — the Potomac or from the Accoquan.
And we still pay full price for this toxic water?
Very disturbing! Even if we would use water filtration system at home at all times, how about public places like schools, hospitals?! Kids use water fountains all the time!
What our Broad Supervisors do with our tax money? Neither care nor fixing our water drinking toxin problem in Annandale zip code 22003? Very disturbing!
Class. Action.