Commissioned by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Water Science & Marketing (WSM) recently completed a study identifying a limited number of commercially available point-of-use (POU) water treatment devices as effective for the removal of Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) from drinking water supplies.
A new class of contaminants, referred to as PFCs, has now been detected in drinking water supplies in Minnesota, Ohio, West Virginia and other states. Due to the number of years of widespread and continued use of products containing PFCs (Teflon, Scotchgard, etc.), measurable concentrations are likely to be found in drinking water supplies throughout the U.S. and the world. While toxicity of various PFC compounds are known, third-party performance data has not been available to determine if the use of commercially available POU devices represents a viable drinking water treatment option for their removal in residential applications.
To secure this information, the MDH commissioned WSM to conduct an extensive study to provide data relevant to PFC removal performance/capacity for such POU devices, in addition to identification of factors affecting reliability and operational characteristics/limitations. Execution of this $640,000 study required WSM to determine the theoretical bases/mechanics of PFC removal for candidate technologies and associated POU devices, create new test methodologies to ensure reliability of data, design/construct specialized test stations, and conduct both in-lab and field testing.
WSM has released their final report on this study to the MDH. It will be published and accessible through the following website:
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/brochures.html.
This study represents the first third-party performance evaluation of its kind, and is considered a groundbreaking effort in the area of performance testing for the removal of emerging health-effect contaminants of concern such as:
• Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs);
• Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs);
• Perfluorochemicals (PFCs); and
• Nanoparticles from unregulated advances in nanotechnology.
