The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has released an interim report on the first phase of a study reviewing the use of point-of-use (POU) water treatment devices to remove three perfluorochemicals (PFCs) — PFBA, PFOS and PFOA — from drinking water, according to a January 31 Lake Elmo Leader article.
An advisory panel, made up of representatives from MDH drinking water and public health programs as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, developed the criteria for devices to be tested. The panel selected the collaborative team of Water Science and Marketing, LLC, and the Water Quality Association (WQA) to complete the study, in which nearly 500 water treatment equipment companies were contacted to submit POU devices.
The advisory panel and study team selected a total of 14 POU devices — eight reverse osmosis (RO) and six activated carbon.
The devices were then tested for 15 to 21 days with water matching the natural water quality as closely as possible and containing the PFCs.
Phase I findings showed that four RO devices were effective and will proceed to Phase II field testing. These four devices are: the CUNO SQC-3, EcoWater ERO-375E-CP, Kinetico Plus Deluxe VX, and Pentair RO 3500EX w/GS.
The Culligan Aqua Clear was not entirely effective, according to the study, but the post-filter on the device is the same filter that was effective when testing carbon devices, the report said.
Two other RO devices are being further evaluated as they showed some migration of PFCs through the membrane, but the post-filter in those cases prevented breakthrough.
One carbon POU device, the Culligan RC-EZ-4, was determined to be effective and also will proceed to Phase II testing, the article said.
Phase II, which has already begun with selected devices using water from municipal water supply wells in southern Washington County, Minn., will continue over an extended time period. Final results of the study are expected in May, the article said.
