Este informe contiene información muy importante sabre su agua potable. Tradúzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien. También puede comunicarse con las oficinas del Distrito (562) 692-3756 para pedir una copia de este reporte en español.

En español

Pico Water District Has Levels of Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Above the Response Level

Our water system recently confirmed a detection of PFOA above the public health­based Response Level (RL). Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what you should do, what happened, and what we are doing to correct this situation.

We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. Water sample results received on October 12, 2021, showed PFOA levels of 12 nanograms per liter (parts per trillion). This is above the State Water Board-established response level annual average of 10 nanograms per liter for PFOA.

What should the Customer do?

  • You do not need to use an alternative water supply (e.g., bottled water).
  • This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately.
  • This is not considered a high concentration exposure and therefore is not associated with immediate health concerns.
  • Some people who drink water containing PFOA over many years may experience liver effects and may be at a greater risk in developing cancer.
  • If you have other health issues concerning the consumption of this water, you may wish to consult your doctor.

What happened? What is being done?

On August 27, 2020, the Pico Water District (District) received notice from the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water (Order) requiring the District to begin monitoring for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances collectively called “PFAS” substances. Two chemicals specifically being monitored are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The District has been ordered to take quarterly samples of all District wells beginning in December 2020 and monitor for the presence of PFOA and PFOS above the Response Level (RL). The RL for PFOA is 10 parts per trillion (ppt) and for PFOS is 40 ppt. The District was also instructed in the Order to average the results of the quarterly sampling over four months and when the results were at or above the RL, notify the public. Based on quarterly testing beginning in December of 2020, the District averaging for PFOA only is above the RL and that is why you are being notified.

In anticipation that monitoring for PFOA and PFOS could lead to levels detected which are above the RL, the District has already begun the work to construct three new treatment plants to address the remediation (removal) of these chemicals from District wells. We anticipate having all three treatment plants installed and operational by December 2022.

For more information, please contact Mark Grajeda, General Manager, at (562) 692-3756 or visit picowaterdistrict.net/your-water/#pfoa.

Please share this information with all of the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this public notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.