BAKERSFIELD, California — The California Water Service in Bakersfield has found that 22 of its water wells could be contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’, also known as PFAS.
The water utility company came across these findings when they tested several of their wells ahead of the Environmental Protection Agency’s introduction of new PFAS guidelines.
We knew of the growing concern over these contaminants, so we started testing years ago,” said Yvonne Kingman, Cal Water spokesperson.
The EPA has grown increasingly concerned over forever chemicals. Long-term exposure has been linked to health problems such as kidney cancer. This is why the EPA created new rules that water utility companies, including Cal Water Bakersfield, must meet.
According to the Food Drug and Administration, PFAS is a diverse group of chemicals that are used to make products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. These ‘forever chemicals’ can be found in everyday items like cookware, cosmetics, food packaging, and even firefighting foam. It is exactly this durability that makes PFAS hard to destroy. It is also incredibly difficult for our environment to break down this chemical.
One of the ways people are exposed to PFAS is by drinking water that has been contaminated by it.
Cal Water sources its water from the Kern River and groundwater. Forever chemicals can exist in either of these sources. For example, let’s say there is a fire and firefighting foam is near ground that is mostly soil. The foam used could be absorbed into the soil that has water below the surface. PFAS can get into water sources after they fail to break down.
Under the new EPA rules, water utility companies must test their water every three years.
Their water sources can’t have a PFAS level higher than ‘four parts per trillion’. If any of their water wells exceed these levels, then companies must report it and make sure to treat the wells within five years.
But should Bakersfield residents worry about these wells? Cal Water said not really. The water utility company is already working to find the best solution to the issue ahead of the five-year deadline.
The potential health effects are only based on long-term exposure,” said Kingman. “It’s not based on an acute exposure or immediate exposure to these compounds.