Addressing Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Emerging contaminants, including PFAS

Contaminants of emerging concern are naturally occurring or manmade substances found in drinking water that may pose risks to human health but are often not regulated under current environmental laws. Examples include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, certain pesticides used in Oregon, toxins produced by cyanobacteria (cyanotoxins), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), manganese, and other similar compounds.

Some of these substances have been present in the environment for years but went undetected, while others are newly introduced due to changes in chemical use and disposal. Research by the U.S. Geological Survey and others shows that many of these substances in Oregon streams are not fully removed by standard drinking water treatment methods used by public water systems. They are considered “emerging" because scientific understanding and regulations are still developing, and important uncertainties remain about their environmental and health effects.

Because of these uncertainties, source water protection and preventive management are essential. Reducing or preventing these substances from entering watersheds and aquifers helps protect drinking water supplies before contamination occurs, particularly when pollutants are not well understood, lack regulatory standards, and are not routinely monitored.

More information is available from OHA Drinking Water Services Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water.

About per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are a group of human-made chemicals found in many everyday products. For general information about PFAS, what DEQ is doing to address them, and answers to common questions, visit DEQ's PFAS in Oregon web page or see the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's PFAS Explained fact sheet. 

PFAS and public drinking water

It is important for public water systems to work to identify and reduce potential pollutants within their drinking water source areas, including PFAS. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's role is to prevent pollution to the sources of drinking water, meaning the lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater from which municipalities get public drinking water. DEQ also provides technical assistance to public water systems to identify ways to prevent pollution. Recommendations for protecting drinking water sources from PFAS contamination are below.

Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services is the lead agency for oversight of public drinking water systems including evaluating and adopting new requirements from EPA and coordinating PFAS sampling with EPA and public water systems. Some public water systems in Oregon have had their drinking water tested for PFAS or are currently doing so. More information on PFAS regulation, PFAS monitoring, and sample results for public water systems can be found on OHA Drinking Water Services PFAS website. DEQ tracks this data from OHA and provides support for source water protection where feasible.

For updates on how Oregon is implementing PFAS drinking water system regulations, see OHA PFAS Rule web page. If PFAS is found, funding may be available to help install treatment systems, but removing PFAS is costly and requires significant investment. One of the best ways to reduce PFAS risk is to understand where it comes from and how vulnerable your water source is.