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On May 19, 2021, the EPA updated its Drinking Water Treatability Database with new PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) references and treatments. The database, which has information on contaminants and the treatment methods to remove them from drinking water, has added information and control options for 11 PFAS, bringing its total to 37 compounds including PFOA and PFOS. The new PFAS additions are:

  • Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)
  • Perfluorohexanesulfonamide (PFHxSA)
  • Perfluorobutylsulfonamide (PFBSA)
  • Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMOBA)
  • Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMOPrA)
  • Perfluoro-3,5,7,9-butaoxadecanoic acid (PFO4DA)
  • Fluorotelomer sulfonate 4:2 (FtS 4:2)
  • Ammonium 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoate (ADONA)
  • Perfluoro-4-(perfluoroethyl)cyclohexylsulfonate (PFECHS)
  • F-53B: a combination of 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid and 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid
  • Perfluoro-2-{[perfluoro-3-(perfluoroethoxy)-2-propanyl]oxy}ethanesulfonic acid, also known as Nafion BP2

The update also includes 38 new scientific PFAS references.

“These new PFAS additions and expanded scientific references help utilities and communities make more informed decisions to manage the compounds.”

Dr. Erin Mackey, Technology Innovation Leader for Drinking Water

About the experts

Dr. Erin Mackey is BC’s Technology Innovation Leader for Drinking Water based in Walnut Creek, California. Dr. Mackey has led the advanced treatment process evaluation and design on civil infrastructure projects across North America and the Pacific, including treatment of PFAS and other microcontaminants.

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