City Reports No Detection of PFAS/PFOS in the Great Falls Water Supply in 2023

The City of Great Falls has completed the 2023 testing for PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) as part of the EPA-required testing under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR 5). Through consistent sampling across all four quarters of 2023, UCMR 5 testing has confirmed no detects (NDs) in the municipal water supply. Great Falls residents can rest assured their water is safe after a year of testing for PFAS and PFOA showed no trace of these potentially harmful chemicals.

PFAS and PFOA have been in the news extensively due to their potential health and environmental impacts. These chemicals are commonly referred to as "forever chemicals" because they are highly persistent in the environment and do not break down easily. In response to the growing concerns, the EPA UCMR 5 requires unregulated contaminants such as PFAS/PFOA to be monitored by public water systems.

PFAS and PFOA are used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products, including cookware, waterproofing agents, food packaging, and firefighting foams used on military bases and commercial airports.   They have been widely used due to their unique properties, such as water and grease resistance, durability, and heat resistance. However, the widespread use and persistence of PFAS and PFOA have raised concerns about their potential adverse health effects, including cancers, as well as endocrine disruption, and immune system depression.

According to Jason Fladland, Water Utility Branch Manager, "The City of Great Falls Water Treatment Plant annually treats nearly 4 billion gallons of drinking water for the citizens of Great Falls. In 2023, the plant operated the entire year without violations and met or exceeded all EPA and DEQ water quality requirements. As part of the commitment to providing the residents of Great Falls with safe, quality drinking water, the Water Treatment Plant is regularly undergoing routine testing, maintenance, and upgrades."

If residents have questions about the quality of the City's drinking water, they can contact the Water Treatment Lab at (406) 727-1325 or visit the lab's website at https://greatfallsmt.net/publicworks/water-testing-lab.