1. Pending EPA Health Advisory for PFOA and PFOS
Board of Directors
May 18, 2016

2. What are PFOA and PFOS ? PFOA = Perfluorooctanoic Acid (C8HF15O2)
PFOS = Perfluoroctane Sulfonate (C8HF17O3S)
Key ingredients/byproducts in the production of:
Consumer Products: Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster, Gore-Tex
Polymers for aircraft and electronics
Paper packaging and wrappers for food (e.g., microwave popcorn bags)
Fire fighting foams
Initially developed in 1940s
Phase out in USA began in 2000s

3. PFOA & PFOS properties Very stable, resistant to degradation
Resistant to water, grease, and stains (lipophobic)
Newer & more sensitive laboratory technology has revealed widespread occurrence in environment
Found in groundwater near manufacturing sites
EPA review of animal testing & human epidemiological studies indicate exposure to PFOA & PFOS above certain levels may result in
Cancer (e.g., kidney)
Liver effects (e.g., tissue damage)
Developmental effects on fetuses and infants

4. EPA Health Advisory
Health Advisories are non-enforceable drinking water levels that are intended to provide technical guidance to state regulators, public health officials, and water utilities
EPA Provisional Health Advisories issued in 2009
Developed for short-term (weeks to months) exposure
PFOA = 400 ng/L (parts per trillion)
PFOS = 200 ng/L (parts per trillion)

5. EPA Health Advisory, cont.
New Pending EPA Lifetime Health Advisory
Under development since 2009 preliminary value released
Scheduled to be publically released tomorrow, May 19th
Release possibly accelerated due to Flint water crisis and recently discovered PFOA/PFOS groundwater contamination in NY, VT, NH
Will account for short-term exposure to sensitive sub-populations
Likely to be set < 100 ng/L (parts per trillion) for combined PFOA + PFOS
Likely EPA recommendations to accompany public release for utilities with PFOA/PFOS concentrations above the Health Advisory
Confirm testing results and assess sources
Inform consumers
Limit exposure (e.g., via use of alternative sources, blending, treatment)

6. PFOA & PFOS Occurrence in Orange County
PFOA & PFOS testing required nationally by EPA via Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) 3 program
OCWD laboratory developed required capability to fulfill testing requirements for all Producers serving >10,000 people
PFOA reporting limit : 20 ng/L (parts per trillion)
PFOS reporting limit: 40 ng/L (parts per trillion
UCMR3 testing completed between
135 samples collected (e.g., wells, reservoirs, blending points)
5 Producers had detections related to groundwater
All results below 2009 Provisional Health Advisories (200 & 400 ng/L)

7. Current OCWD Actions Assess sources
Reviewing potential local industrial sites
Sampled Santa Ana River and MWD-OC 28 (results due next week)
Review GWRS data
2012 research study: PFOA & PFOS not detected in GWRS Final Product Water
2014 OCWD testing: PFOA & PFOS not detected in GWRS Final Product Water
Confirms studies showing reverse osmosis is effective treatment
Assess extent via future testing at select OCWD monitoring wells
Coordination with potentially affected Producers

8. Coordination with Potentially Affected Producers
Meetings and calls between EPA, CA DDW, Producers, and OCWD
Coordination on clear communications for likely inquires from public & media
Producers have plans in place or have already begun blending and/or use of alternative sources (e.g., shut off wells with detections)
Specific future actions depend on lifetime Health Advisory concentration

9. Questions ?