Deadline for PFOS MCL Comments to DWQI
The New Jersey Drinking Water Quality Institute (DWQI) has recommended a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) of 13 ppt or ng/L. If approved as the final recommendation by the DWQI, the MCL will be a mandatory safe drinking water standard that must be adhered to by all public water suppliers in New Jersey if officially adopted by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. You are encouraged to comment on the proposed regulation. Delaware Riverkeeper Network has commissioned an independent scientific review by a toxicology expert to evaluate the proposed MCL; we will be sharing the findings of that review on this page. We note that the proposed MCL of 13 ppt is more protective than the current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Health Advisory Level (a voluntary guideline, not a MCL) of 70 ppt, when found separately or in combination with Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA).
From the DWQI website (http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/g_boards_dwqi.html ):
The Drinking Water Quality Institute (DWQI) was established (Title 58:12A-20) to make recommendations including the development of maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), development of appropriate testing techniques to measure MCLs, and testing frequencies for implementation by the Drinking Water Quality Program of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The DWQI has developed a draft MCL recommendation for Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS).
Consistent with the DWQI public participation process, the DWQI is holding a 60-day (December 5 – February 5, 2018) public comment period during which the public may submit comment on the Subcommittee Reports pertaining to the development for a recommendation for a Maximum Contaminant Level Recommendation for PFOS. Please indicate which Subcommittee report the submitted comments pertain to.
- Health Effects Subcommittee Report: Health-Based Maximum Contaminant Level Support Document: Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)
- Testing Subcommittee Report: Report on the Development of a Practical Quantitation Level for Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) in Drinking Water
- Treatment Subcommittee Report: Second Addendum to Appendix C: Recommendation on Perfluorinated Compound Treatment Options for Drinking Water
- Original Treatment Subcommittee Report: Appendix C: Recommendation of Perfluorinated Compound Treatment Options for Drinking Water (2015)
Comments will be accepted until 5 pm on February 5, 2018
ALL COMMENTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO watersupply@dep.nj.gov
Additional information on the DWQI can be found at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/g_boards_dwqi.html
