4-17-24, Consumer Drinking Water Notice - PFAS UpdateCONSUMER DRINKING WATER NOTICE
CITY OF KALISPELL WATER SUPPLY
PFAS – (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) Update
PFAS – Primary Drinking Water Rule
On April 10, 2024, a final rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) setting limits for
PFAS in drinking water was signed. The rule, which will become effective 60 days after
publication in the Federal Register, establishes a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation
(NPDWR) that will apply to all community water systems and non-transient non-community
water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The rule allows a public water system five years to come into compliance with the signed
NPDWR. Public water systems have three years to complete initial testing and another two
years to implement treatment or switch to an uncontaminated source of drinking water, if PFAS
levels exceed one or more of the established Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL).
EPA set limits for five individual PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (known as GenX
Chemicals), and a Hazard Index level for two or more of four PFAS as a mixture: PFNA, PFHxS,
HFPO-DA, and PFBS.
Chemical Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL)
PFOA 4.0 ppt
PFOS 4.0 ppt
PFNA 10.0 ppt
PFHxS 10.0 ppt
HFPO-DA (GENX Chemicals) 10.0 ppt
Mixture of two or more: PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and PFBS Hazard Index of 1
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.
MCLs are enforceable standards.
ppt: parts per trillion
Hazard Index (HI): The Hazard Index is a long-established approach that EPA regularly uses to understand
health risk for a chemical mixture.
Kalispell Sampling Efforts and Results
In March of 2024 drinking water samples were collected and analyzed for PFAS from all the
Kalispell Public Water System (PWS) source water wells. The sampling was undertaken as a
component of Kalispell's ongoing initiative aimed at assessing and comprehending the impacts
of PFAS on the Public Water System (PWS). Among the wells sampled, four exhibited detectable
levels of PFAS, with one of the well samples surpassing two of the newly established Maximum
Contaminant Levels (MCLs).
Kalispell – Sample Results March 2024
Compound MCL SOURCE Sample5
DATES
RESULTS
PFOS 4 PPT Old School #1
Armory
Grandview #1
Grandview #2
3/24
3/24
3/24
3/24
2.0 PPT (below MCL)
3.5 PPT (below MCL)
3.5 PPT (below MCL)
13 PPT (above MCL)
PFOA 4 PPT All Sources 3/24 0 PPB & 0 PPT
PFHxS 10 PPT Armory
Grandview #1
Grandview #2
3/24
3/24
3/24
3.4 PPT (below MCL)
3.0 PPT (below MCL)
11 PPT (above MCL)
HFPO-DA (GENx) 10 PPT All Sources 3/24 0 PPB & 0 PPT
PFNA 10 PPT All Sources 3/24 0 PPB & 0 PPT
PFBS Hazard Index of 1 All Sources 3/ 24 0 PPB & 0 PPT
A complete list of source sampling detection results can be found on the City’s website at
Consumer Drinking Water Notice - Emerging Contaminants (PFAS) | Kalispell, MT.
City Action Items -What is Being Done?
Public Information and Notice:
• Sending out Public Notice 4/17/2024
• Public Workshop/Work Session schedule for 6/10/2024
• Continual updating of Website with relevant information
Further Evaluation:
• Follow up sampling will be conducted at Kalispell PWS well sites. The next scheduled
sampling will be in the summer of 2024. The sampling will follow the new rule protocols
and procedures.
• Results will be posted on the City’s Website.
Projects to Minimize Exposure:
• Kalispell has applied for funding to address PFAS exposures detected from the current
and previous samplings. Funding options are aimed to support either replacement or
treatment of the water source(s).
• Kalispell is examining available options to address PFAS in the drinking water supply and
maintain compliance with the new drinking water rule.
What Can You Do?
• If you are concerned about levels of PFAS found in your drinking water, contact your
doctor or health care professional.
• Consider actions that may reduce your exposure including installing a home or point of
use filter, if possible, while steps are being taken to further understand levels of
concern.
• Boiling, freezing, or letting water stand does not reduce PFAS levels.
• Consider any resources and recommendations from your state.
• Review EPA’s Meaningful and Achievable Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk.
What are PFAS?
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. PFAS are (or
have been) found in a wide variety of consumer products and as an ingredient in firefighting
foam. PFAS manufacturing and processing facilities, airports, and military installations are some
of the contributors of PFAS releases into the air, soil, and water. Because of their widespread
use, most people have been exposed to PFAS and there is evidence that exposure to certain
PFAS may lead to adverse health effects.
Health Effects of Exposure to PFAS?
Exposure to PFAS may result in a wide range of adverse health outcomes, including:
• developmental effects including to fetuses after exposure during pregnancy or postnatal
development (e.g., low birth weight, accelerated puberty, skeletal variations,
development of the immune system);
• cancer (e.g., testicular, kidney);
• liver effects (e.g., cellular lesions);
• immune effects (e.g., decreased antibody response to vaccination, decreased immune
response immunity);
• thyroid effects and other effects (e.g., cholesterol changes).
For More Information
City of Kalispell Contacts:
• Contact Name: Joe Schrader, Utility Management Superintendent
• Contact Phone and email: 406-758-7989, jschrader@kalispell.com
For information on PFAS, including the new Rule, basic information, and health outcomes, you
may visit these websites:
• PFAS Rule, Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes First-Ever National Drinking Water
Standard to Protect 100M People from PFAS Pollution | US EPA
• Basic information, EPA actions to address PFAS, and links to informational resources:
www.epa.gov/pfas
• Health information, exposure, and links to additional resources for PFAS in drinking
water: www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/drinking-water-health-
advisories-pfoa-and-pfos
Notice Released 4-17-24