The California State Water Resources Control Board has strengthened notification requirements for a potential carcinogen found in wells across the state, including Santa Clarita, officials said Monday.

The state water board updated guidelines for local water agencies, including SCV Water, to follow in detecting and reporting the presence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in drinking water.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manmade chemicals that are prevalent in the environment and were commonly used in industrial and consumer products to repel grease, moisture, oil, water and stains, according to SCV Water officials.

These chemicals enter the environment through treated wastewater discharge, landfills and areas where the substances were used outdoors, officials said.

Exposure to PFOA and PFOS above certain levels can cause adverse health effects, including cancer and harmful effects to a developing fetus or infant, the immune system and liver, according to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

SCV Water is one of more than 200 water systems and over 612 groundwater wells in California
required to sample for PFAS and PFOA chemicals this year.

The updated state guidelines lower the current notification level from 14 parts per trillion (ppt) to 5.1
ppt for PFOA and from 13 ppt to 6.5 ppt for PFOS. These new guidelines would apply to all SCV
Water wells tested moving forward, according to local water officials.

Under these levels, an additional three wells would fall within notification levels, added to the eight identified during the first round of sampling in May, according to SCV Water.

See Related: SCV Water Shuts Down A Well After Detection Of Potential Carcinogen

One well was removed from service in May when it exceeded DDW’s interim response level of a combined 70 ppt for PFOS and PFOA. The response level is expected to be reviewed by the board this fall.

The wells tested are generally located along the Santa Clara River, from just east of Golden Valley Parkway to just west of McBean Parkway.

For perspective, one part per trillion is a microscopic measurement for something in the water or air
and would be equal to four grains of sugar in an Olympic-size swimming pool, according to SCV Water.

“While we did not find more PFAS in our water, today’s new requirements from the State Water
Resources Control Board has established lower notification levels for all California water agencies,” said SCV Water’s General Manager Matt Stone. “Our customers come first, and we continue to vigilantly monitor our water quality and implement new strategies as needed to safeguard our water supply.”

Notification levels are a non-regulatory, precautionary health-based measure for concentrations in
drinking water that warrant notification and further monitoring and assessment, according to officials.

When SCV Water samples water that is above the notification level, it is reported to the State Water Board, as well as the SCV Water governing board, the Santa Clarita City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

SCV Water is set to continue to monitor groundwater, and is proactively sampling all 44 groundwater
wells in August 2019. In the interim, SCV Water will adjust its systems’ operations and will rely on
its diverse water supply portfolio, including imported and banked water sources, in order to
minimize any supply impacts to its customers.

Additionally, SCV Water encourages customers to continue to use water efficiently in their homes and on their landscapes. In light of the changes, SCV Water has also proactively begun evaluating treatment options to remove PFOA and PFOS chemicals and has created a staff-led team dedicated to developing a plan to address the issue.

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