The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is advising private well owners to check if they are in the vicinity of community water systems (CWS) that have shown elevated levels of one or more Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in testing conducted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA). Illinois EPA recently sent notices to 47 CWS, and 10 CWS with emergency connections, around the state whose systems indicated levels of PFAS in excess of groundwater quality standards.
The presence of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” in the source water for those CWSs means there could also be elevated levels in the groundwater that supplies nearby private wells. IDPH recommends well owners in the vicinity of impacted CWS have their water tested by a private laboratory, and consider other options, such as installing carbon filters on their faucets.
“The overwhelming majority of Illinois’s water systems do not show signs of elevated PFAS levels,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “However, it is important for Illinois residents to know where and when elevated levels are present and to take appropriate steps to respond.” IDPH’s Division of Environmental Health can assist private well owners by providing information they need to have their water tested and to address any concerns.”
PFAS are stable, persistent chemicals that can accumulate in the human body over time. Excess levels of PFAS have been linked to a number of potential health issues, including higher risks of cancer, thyroid disease, decreased birth weight, increased total cholesterol in adults, and decreased vaccine responses in children.
For a list of laboratories certified to analyze drinking water for PFAS, interpretation of test results, contaminant health effects information, and recommendations for individuals who regularly consume well water, please contact IDPH by phone at (217) 782-5830 or by email at dph.tox@Illinois.gov.
For more information on PFAS, go to PFAS in Drinking Water.
***Courtesy of The Illinois Department of Public Health***
