The USGS has also released an interactive map, detailing PFAS contamination of drinking water supplies may be more widespread than previously thought.

PEMBROOKE, N.H. — PFAS contamination of drinking water supplies may be more widespread than previously thought.

Last month scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey published a study that estimated around 20% of untreated groundwater supplies in the country may contain “detectable amounts” of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances more commonly known as PFAS, or forever chemicals. The first-of-its-kind estimate analyzed 1,238 samples of groundwater nationwide at varying depths to build a predictive model for public and private drinking water supplies, such as wells.

PFAS contamination levels are linked to the amount of human development, a factor which, unsurprisingly, means smaller southern New England states like Rhode Island are more likely to have contamination in their groundwater supplies.

Data from the model’s analysis suggests that for 76% to 92% of people in Rhode Island who rely on public groundwater supplies for drinking water, those supplies could be contaminated with forever chemicals. In Massachusetts, the range is higher, between 86% to 98%. In Connecticut, source water for around 67% to 87% of people who rely on groundwater from private wells could be contaminated with PFAS.

The USGS estimates nationwide between 70 million and 90 million people in the continental United States could be relying on groundwater that contains detectable concentrations of PFAS for drinking water.

“This study’s findings indicate widespread PFAS contamination in groundwater that is used for public and private drinking water supplies in the U.S.,” said Andrea Tokranov, USGS research hydrologist and lead author of the study. “This new predictive model can help prioritize areas for future sampling to help ensure people aren’t unknowingly drinking contaminated water.”

The USGS has also released an interactive map, detailing which areas of the country have groundwater likely to be contaminated with PFAS.

https://geonarrative.usgs.gov/pfasinusgroundwater/

https://ecori.org/study-suggests-pfas-contamination-in-drinking-water-supplies-may-be-worse-than-we-think/