WATER AND
POWER
Update on PFHxS in
Untreated Ground
Water
City Council
October 24, 2023
• Known as ‘forever chemicals’ - they do not break down Over 12,000 types
In soil and contaminate drinking water sources
Bioaccumulation over time in people and animals
Per and Polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS)
• Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)
identified as a higher risk for
bioaccumulation
PFAS Contamination in Ground Water
• Health and Safety Code Section 116378:
Notification and Response Levels
Notification levels (NL)
Response levels (RL)
• Currently 4 PFAS chains have NL and RL
• Only PFHxS has been detected
Notification Level Requirements
• Report the exceedance to City Council and BWP
Board
• Report the exceedance in annual
consumer confidence report (CCR)
Response Level Requirements
• Remove the source from operation; or
• Report the exceedance in annual
consumer confidence report (CCR)
• Provide source water treatment; or
• Provide public notification for continued
use without treatment
PFHxS Well (Untreated)Test Results
PFHxS Dilution Plan
On September 28, 2023 the Division of Drinking
Water approved the city’s PFHxS Dilution Plan that:
Allows greater operational flexibility
Reduces the PFHxS concentration in
untreated well water
Requires more sampling and testing
BWP Treatment Facility
PFHxS in Treated Water
*ND: Non-Detect
Notification
Level
Response
Level
Jan- March
Results
April – June
Results
July- Sept
Results
>3 ng/L >20 ng/L ND ND ND
Future Regulations and Requirements
• The Environmental Protection Agency proposed
expanded PFAS regulations in drinking water that
will require more testing
• The Burbank Operable Unit will need to
revise its operating permit to include
treatment of PFAS
CONTACT
Richard Wilson
Assistant General Manager – Water Systems
[email protected]
(818) 238-3558 office