Town News

Frisco PFAS Water Testing Results from the State of Colorado Sampling Project

First published March 1, 2021
Updated April 23, 2021
Updated July 27, 2021
Updated July 8, 2022

In 2020, the Town of Frisco took part in Colorado’s 2020 Sampling Project by sampling drinking water at three source locations where treated water enters the piping network in town. The 2020 Colorado Sampling Project was in direct response to an emerging public health challenge from a group of chemicals scientifically called per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances or “PFAS.” These chemicals are found in certain classes of firefighting foam as well as in many consumer products, and may cause various health impacts. To help communities learn if their residents are at risk, the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) offered free testing to public drinking water systems serving communities. The State of Colorado is one of 12 states which has decided to go beyond the guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by establishing their own regulations at the state level, testing chemicals at their source, and setting limits on various contaminants before they threaten public health.

2020 First Round Voluntary Testing Results

  1. The first Frisco testing location did not show any PFAS at all.
  2. The second location did not show any PFOA or PFOS, but had a total PFAS level of 1.3ppt of other PFAS substances tested.
  3. The third location had a combined PFOA and PFOS level of 17.2ppt, well in compliance of the CDPHE and EPA health advisory limits, however had a total concentration of 75.4ppt. This included 58.2ppt PFAS compounds that are currently not under the EPA health advisory.

2021 Second Round Voluntary Testing Results

During the first round of voluntary testing with the State of Colorado, three of Frisco’s sources of raw (untreated) water were tested. During a second round of voluntary testing in spring 2021, the water source, Well 7, (raw/untreated water) where PFOA and PFOS levels of 17.2ppt were found was once again tested, along with treated water at two town buildings and one town residence to better understand levels in treated water that has been distributed throughout the water system.

  1. Well 7- raw/untreated water tested- This location was tested during the first round of voluntary testing as well.
    • First round testing results – 17.2ppt combined PFOA and PFOS levels -EPA health advisory is for levels of 70ppt and above for combined PFOA and PFOS levels.
      – 58.2ppt of PFAS compounds that are not under an EPA health advisory
    • Second round testing results – 16ppt combined PFOA and PFOS levels -EPA health advisory is for levels of 70ppt and above for combined PFOA and PFOS levels.
      – 42.6ppt of PFAS compounds that are not under an EPA health advisory.
  2. Frisco Adventure Park Day Lodge- treated water tested from the tap; this location was not tested during the first round of voluntary testing, as only raw/untreated water was tested then, and this site was chosen due to the ease of testing in a public building and proximity to Well 7.
    • 12ppt for PFOS levels and not detectable levels of PFOA -EPA health advisory is for levels of 70ppt and above for combined PFOA and PFOS levels.
    • 45.2ppt of PFAS compounds that are not under an EPA health advisory.
  3. Town Hall- treated water tested from the tap; this location was not tested during the first round of voluntary testing, as only raw/untreated water was tested then, and this site was chosen due to the ease of testing in a public building and location in the core of town.
    • 10.1ppt combined PFOA and PFOS levels -EPA health advisory is for levels of 70ppt and above for combined PFOA and PFOS levels.
    • 25.1ppt of PFAS compounds that are not under the EPA health advisory.
  4. Private residence on Hawn Drive- treated water tested from the tap; this location was not tested during the first round of voluntary testing, as only raw/untreated water was tested then, and this site was chosen due to a desire to test a private residence in the core of town.
    • No detectable levels of PFOA or PFOS levels -EPA health advisory is for levels of 70ppt and above for combined PFOA and PFOS levels.
    • 2.66ppt of PFAS compounds that are not under the EPA health advisory.

2021 Third Round of Testing Results

  • In August 2021, the Town of Frisco tested Town drinking water for a group of unregulated chemicals commonly known as PFAS as follow-up to two previous rounds of voluntary testing as part of  Colorado’s 2020 Sampling Project .
  • The water sample results from these voluntary tests received on August 30, 2021 showed that certain PFAS chemicals, PFOA, PFOS, GenX, or PFBS, are present in the drinking water.
  • Results:
    • Source (Well #7) PFOS=11ppt, PFOA= 4.5ppt;
    • Distribution system testing- Tubing Hill PFOS=10ppt, PFOA=4.6;
    • Town Hall PFOA & PFOS= non detect
    • 11 Hawn Drive (private residence)= PFOA & PFOS= non-detect.

What the Results Mean

  • During the first two rounds of voluntary water testing, Frisco’s water did not test above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for the two chemical compounds, PFOA, and PFOS, which the EPA has guidance for at this time. The MCL was based on an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health advisory issued in May 2016, which an (MCL) of 70 parts per trillion(ppt) for two chemical compounds in the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) family, PFOA, and PFOS. PFAS were and still are widely used in various industrial settings, and the full extent of their long-term environmental and health implications is still being studied. The EPA’s health advisory specifically applies to PFOA and PFOS compounds, two compounds out of the 18 PFAS compounds tested for in drinking water.
  • In June 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released interim health advisories for PFOA and PFOS and final health advisories for PFBS and GenX. This new guidance indicated that the EPA is advising that levels for these chemicals to be below detectable levels- basically at zero.

Next Steps

  • Even though Frisco’s PFOA and PFOS levels were well below the maximum set by the advisory for the first two rounds of testing in 2020 and 2021, the Town of Frisco partnered with the EPA and the CDPHE to further evaluate PFAS levels and increase frequency of testing to see if they change over time.
  • The Town of Frisco is currently working with water system engineers to select and design the most optimum treatment system available to remove all PFAS to below detectable levels from the one source where PFAS was detected.
  • In 2022, the Town of Frisco received a $50,000 grant from CDPHE to help fund the pilot testing needed to design a removal system. With the assistance provided by CDPHE, it is the Town of Frisco’s goal to have a treatment system installed and operating by mid-summer 2023. The Town will continue to apply for grants to help offset the cost of installing the treatment process.
  • During the summer of 2022, the Town will be starting a pilot treatment process to determine the best option to treat Frisco’s water based on its chemistry.
    • The two technologies that the Town will be testing are an ion exchange resin and granulated activated carbon (GAC). These pilot tests should last about 3-4 months and will be done simultaneously. Once the results of these tests are known, the Town will finalize the design of the treatment system using one of these technologies.
  • The CDPHE is continuing to evaluate all results from the 2020 Sampling Project and considering areas where PFAS releases may have originated and will determine if private wells or additional public water systems that were not originally sampled could be at risk for water with levels above the EPA health advisory. During the 2020 State Sampling Project, 400 out of the 895 eligible Colorado water systems participated, including Frisco.
  • The Colorado State legislature passed several laws regarding these chemicals in 2020. There are now restrictions related to the use of firefighting foam that contains these chemicals. There is also a fee structure to fund further sampling and provide support to impacted communities. The fees will also provide money to start a takeback and disposal program for materials with these chemicals. As new studies become available, the understanding of the health and environmental impacts of these chemicals in humans will continue to grow and may influence the EPAs and CDPHE’s response protocol, and the Town of Frisco will closely follow this evolving knowledge about PFAS and monitor and treat Frisco’s water to continue to provide safe and delicious water for Frisco residents and visitors.

Resources

Below is a list of resources to learn more about PFAS and their use, impacts, prevalence, monitoring, and legislation.