PWX 2019

Emerging Contaminants, a Recurring Issue for Drinking Water Utilities: the City of Issaquah, Washington Case Study (Room 617)

09 Sep 19
3:00 PM - 3:50 PM

Tracks: Water Resources: Water/Wastewater

Speaker(s): Robert York, Engineering Manager, City of Issaquah; Robert Anderson, Principal Hydrogeologist

Since 1996, the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) requires EPA to compile results for selected unregulated “emerging” compounds that could pose a threat to drinking water, including a specific group of compounds called perfluoro-alkyl substances (PFASs). As a result of UCMR sampling, PFASs were detected in one of the City of Issaquah’s four groundwater production wells. The concentration of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) (before it was blended) exceeded federal health advisory levels. The City immediately responded with a series short term actions to address the detection of this unregulated contaminant in their groundwater supply, including using the Issaquah situation as a pilot strategy that could be used for other communities facing similar problems.