{"id":8474,"date":"2022-08-03T10:22:39","date_gmt":"2022-08-03T14:22:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tampabaywater.org\/?page_id=8474"},"modified":"2025-10-02T08:20:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T12:20:50","slug":"pfas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tampabaywater.org\/quality\/water-quality-concerns\/pfas\/","title":{"rendered":"Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Protecting Public Health is Our Top Priority<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tampa Bay Water\u2019s top priority is providing high-quality, clean, safe drinking water for our member governments \u2013 Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa. The water we provide is safe and meets or is better than state and federal, health-based drinking water regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We understand PFAS are a concern for all communities, including here in Tampa Bay, and we want to help residents understand the facts about PFAS and how it affects Tampa Bay Water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

PFAS are man-made compounds that have been widely used in the manufacturing of clothing, sealants and stains, furniture fabrics, Teflon\u2122-coated products, food packaging, and other materials since the 1940s. They are also used in firefighting foam, carpet manufacturing and other industrial processes. EPA is focused on a small number of these compounds that may have health effects at very low concentrations, two of which are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not uncommon to find low levels of PFAS in drinking water sources as they are slow to break down when they enter our environment. When these products are used and discarded, they can release PFAS into the environment, including drinking water sources.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Source:<\/strong> Water Research Foundation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Find out more about PFAS from EPA<\/a> and the American Water Works Association<\/a> (AWWA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is EPA doing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

EPA issued new regulations in April 2024 and modified regulations in May 2025. The regulation is 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May 2025, EPA also stated its intent to extend the compliance deadline from 2029 to 2031, and rescind the regulations and reconsider regulatory determinations for perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EPA continually studies unregulated contaminants  to determine if there is new scientific data to support adding them to the list of regulated contaminants in drinking water. These studies are done through EPA\u2019s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule process<\/strong><\/a>. EPA is studying 29 PFAS in its fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule<\/strong><\/a> study between 2023 and 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tampa Bay Water tested the regional drinking water supply for 29 PFAS, including six PFAS, alongside its member utilities, during EPA\u2019s nationwide study. Tampa Bay Water and five of its members began testing in July 2023. The City of Tampa began testing in January 2023. Testing required collecting samples for four consecutive quarters. Click here for results<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn More About Testing for PFAS.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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