According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is evidence that exposure to certain types of PFAS can lead to adverse health outcomes to humans. Testing is ongoing to more fully understand the potential impacts to health from various types of PFAS.

The drinking water currently supplied by the county to its customers meets state and federal safety standards for drinking water. While there are areas of the county’s groundwater that contain PFAS, the drinking water currently provided by the county to customers is within the strictest state and federal standards and safe for drinking water. The State Division of Drinking Water (DDW) has issued an order to California public water systems with proximity to potential sources of PFAS to test their water regularly.  These counties are listed at this DDW webpage: www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/PFOA_PFOS.

Private wells are not currently part of ongoing testing and monitoring. However, the Regional Water Quality Control Board is requiring testing and monitoring of groundwater associated with potential PFAS sources, such as landfills, wastewater treatment plants, airports, and chrome-plating operations. In the future, this process may require testing of nearby private domestic wells.