PFAS FAQ page
PFAS and Phthalate Frequently Asked Questions
Read about PFAS and Phthalates HERE or read about how Corvallis has not detected PFAS or Phthalates HERE.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do to reduce my exposure to PFAS?
Small changes can reduce you and your family’s exposure to PFAS chemicals. We may not be able to eliminate our exposure to PFAS, but there are ways to limit it. For example: avoid re-heating foods in fast food packaging and take-out containers; look for take-out food packaging that is certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI); replace non-stick cookware with alternatives that don’t contain PFAS; look for “PFAS-Free” when buying waterproof or stain-resistant items, and dental floss, cosmetics, or other personal care products; and choose household cleaning product with EPA Safer Choice, UL Eco-Logo, or Green Seal labels.
Category: PFAS
What can I do to reduce my exposure to Phthalates?
Small changes at home can reduce you and your family’s exposure to phthalates chemicals. We may not be able to eliminate our exposure to phthalates, but you can try to reduce it. For example: microwave and store foods and liquids in glass containers. Avoid plastic food containers and plastic wrap with the Recycling Label #3 on it. Steer clear of the words “fragrance,” “perfume,” or “parfum” in their ingredients. Seek out phthalate-free cosmetics found in the Skin Deep® product clearinghouse. Look for products with EPA Safer Choice, Green Seal, and Eco Logo certification labels that are phthalate-free. These are safer choices!
Category: PFAS
Only 6 PFAS are required to be tested in drinking water according to the EPA. What about the others?
It should be noted that testing for PFAS compounds is currently limited. The City is testing for 29 PFAS compounds, including the six compounds that the EPA is going to be regulating in drinking water. The City is monitoring advancements in laboratory capabilities and will expand its PFAS compound testing as the industry shifts with improved analysis methodologies over time.
Category: PFAS
How often does the City of Corvallis test for PFAS?
Water systems have five years to comply with the EPA rule (see EPA Rule FAQ). The City of Corvallis does the following:
- Drinking water: The City of Corvallis did voluntary PFAS and Phthalates testing in drinking water twice in 2023 and will continue to test twice a year in 2024. PFAS and Phthalates have not been detected in Corvallis drinking water. The official PFAS and Phthalates tests required by the EPA will occur sometime in the Fall of 2024.
- Wastewater: The City tested wastewater for PFAS and Phthalates four times in 2023 and will continue to do so in 2024. The City also tested biosolids from the wastewater treatment plant four times in 2023 and will continue to do so in 2024, to further investigate sources and levels PFAS.
Category: PFAS
What is the new EPA rule?
The new EPA rule—the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR)--establishes legally enforceable levels for six PFAS known to occur individually and/or as mixtures in drinking water. EPA will regulate five PFAS as individually. They are PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA. EPA will regulate four PFAS as a mixture: PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS. PFAS can often be found together and in varying combinations as mixtures. Decades of research show mixtures of different chemicals can have additive health effects, even if the individual chemicals are each present at lower levels. With this rule, EPA has set limits for these chemicals individually and/or as mixtures. See the following FACT SHEET (epa.gov) for more information.
Category: PFAS
What is the City of Corvallis doing to address PFAS and phthalate in wastewater and biosolids?
The City is looking at different sources of PFAS in Wastewater, including our industrial customers. The City is also working with biosolids researchers at OSU and professional groups in the Northwest and is engaged in regional and statewide efforts to increase knowledge about PFAS risks and how to minimize those risks. The City is also sharing information about PFAS so the public can make educated choices.
Category: PFAS
What about home water filtration? Does that remove PFAS?
PFAS have NOT been detected in Corvallis drinking water. According to the EPA, a home filter could be an effective way to reduce PFAS levels (EPA filter factsheet). Many water pitcher filters and other home-based water filters are able to reduce the levels of PFAS in drinking water. If you decide to use a filter, look for ones that are certified to reduce PFAS. Be aware that current filters on the market will not yet be certified to reduce PFAS to the new EPA standard, but the added filtration they provide can help reduce your exposure. It's important to note that the current certification standards for PFAS filters (as of April 2024) do not yet indicate that a filter will remove PFAS down to the levels EPA has now set for a drinking water standard.
Category: PFAS
Can I boil PFAS out of my water?
No. These chemicals cannot be removed by heating or boiling water. See FACT SHEET (epa.gov) for more information.
Category: PFAS
What if I get water from a well, instead of the City of Corvallis drinking water?
The quality and safety of drinking water from wells that service fewer than 25 persons, such as most household wells, are not regulated by the Federal Government under the Safe Drinking Water Act nor by many state governments and laws. Furthermore, the City does not have groundwater quality information and does not monitor or regulate drinking water wells.
Private well owners are responsible for assuring safe drinking water for their households. See this FACT SHEET (epa.gov) for more information. If you want to test your well water, visit the Benton County OSU Extension Service’s Water Tests webpage for more information.
Category: PFAS
What is a part per trillion? How much is that?
Parts per trillion is a unit of measure. It is a very tiny amount. For perspective, one part per trillion is the equivalent of four grains of sugar in an Olympic sized swimming pool (From EPA Factsheet).
Category: PFAS
