RECENT TESTING DETECTS NO PFAS IN MDC WATER
Initial 2023 sampling shows no PFAS, consistent with previous test results
For Immediate Release
April 10, 2023
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(HARTFORD, CT) – The Metropolitan District (MDC) takes water quality very seriously, and remains committed to providing our customers with the highest quality potable water through source protection, treatment, compliance monitoring and reporting of analytical results. MDC uses rigorous testing as part of its annual water quality report and continues to meet or exceed drinking water standards year after year.
MDC is currently reviewing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent announcement of a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Rule to provide a nationwide regulation for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds. PFAS are not currently a regulated compound.
MDC is taking steps to monitor for PFAS in advance of the proposed rule. The EPA uses a program called the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) to monitor for the highest priority unregulated contaminants in Public Water Systems (PWS) across the United States every 5 years. Water samples are collected and analyzed for 29 specific PFAS substances (including the six listed in the proposed EPA rule) as part of the requirement of this year’s program called UCMR 5. The test period for UCMR5 allows until the end of 2025 to complete testing.
MDC chose to begin testing this past January, which must be completed over four consecutive quarters. The initial preliminary results from the first quarter tests indicated none of the 29 PFAS compounds have been detected in MDC water samples. Three additional rounds of testing will be conducted by the end the year. It should be noted that MDC also tested its water for six PFAS compounds as part of a previous round of UCMR testing in 2013 and 2014. No PFAS were detected in any of the samples taken during that twelve-month period.
MDC’s surface water reservoirs are well protected as Connecticut is one of only two states that requires use of Class A water for drinking water purposes. Class A water means that there are no wastewater discharges to the drinking water source or upstream. In addition, MDC owns over 31,000 acres of land to protect its watershed and maintains a vigilant and aggressive watershed protection program, which includes over 1000 inspections a year which vastly reduces potential contamination.
MDC is confident that not only is the water safe to drink, but it remains among the highest quality in the United States. MDC will continue to keep our customers informed on water quality standards for PFAS as they are developed by our regulators.