Toxic PFAS contamination found in 98% of US waterways
A sweeping new report has uncovered disturbing levels of PFAS contamination in waterways across the United States, raising urgent questions about the safety of the nation’s water supply.
Conducted by Waterkeeper Alliance in partnership with local Waterkeeper groups and the Hispanic Access Foundation, the study found that 98% of tested water sites contained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – a group of toxic, long-lasting industrial chemicals linked to serious health risks.
The report, part of a national water monitoring initiative, highlights the pervasive nature of PFAS contamination, particularly in areas downstream from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and agricultural fields treated with biosolids.
With some sites showing chemical spikes of more than 5,000%, the findings point to a growing environmental and public health crisis – one that advocates say is being dangerously overlooked at the federal level.
A growing PFAS crisis
This report builds on a 2022 Phase I initiative that found PFAS in 83% of sampled rivers, lakes, and streams across the country.
The new findings, part of a continued multi-phase investigation, narrowed its focus to specific high-risk areas – locations downstream of 22 WWTPs and 10 biosolid land application fields in 19 states, many of which serve communities already burdened by environmental inequities.
Using PFASsive passive sampling technology developed by SiREM, researchers conducted an extended 20-day monitoring effort that offered more reliable results than traditional spot-check methods.
The results were staggering, revealing how deeply entrenched PFAS chemicals are in both urban and rural water systems.
Contamination worsens downstream from treatment plants and fields
The study showed a significant spike in PFAS levels in areas downstream from both WWTPs and biosolids application fields.
Contaminant concentrations rose in 95% of sites located below wastewater treatment facilities and 80% of sites downstream from biosolid use. In some cases, the chemical levels surged by thousands of percentage points.
One WWTP site recorded a nearly 3,000% increase in total PFAS downstream, reaching 228.29 parts per trillion (ppt), while a biosolids site reported a 5,100% spike to 106.51 ppt.
Among the most commonly detected PFAS were compounds such as PFOA and PFOS – both linked to serious health concerns – as well as unregulated chemicals like PFHxA and PFPeA, which also saw elevated levels downstream.
Alarmingly, total PFAS concentrations at every WWTP site and 90% of biosolid sites surpassed the 1 ppt health-based threshold set by the Environmental Working Group, a benchmark widely used in public health assessments.
Health and policy implications of the PFAS surge
PFAS are known for their resistance to degradation, earning them the nickname ‘forever chemicals.’
Prolonged exposure has been linked to cancer, hormonal disruption, liver damage, and developmental issues. Despite these dangers, federal oversight has lagged behind.
Several sampling sites even exceeded proposed national drinking water limits for PFOA and PFOS, compounds the EPA has acknowledged as especially hazardous.
Yet, in a concerning turn, the Environmental Protection Agency is currently considering a rollback of proposed rules for several key PFAS chemicals, including PFHxS, PFNA, and GenX.
Additionally, the agency has yet to establish any national standards for PFAS in biosolids, despite evidence of their presence in these materials dating back over two decades.
According to EPA estimates from 2023, roughly 60% of treated biosolids are applied to land, with about a third spread over agricultural fields, creating a direct pathway for PFAS to enter ecosystems and food chains.
Marc Yaggi, CEO of Waterkeeper Alliance, added: “Currently, there is little accountability for PFAS entering our environment and water through poorly regulated pathways.
“American communities are exposed daily, often unknowingly, and many face serious, disproportionate health risks. The tools to address this crisis exist, but the political will is lacking.
“We cannot afford more watered-down regulations and loopholes for industrial source polluters. The science is clear: EPA and lawmakers must act decisively, and with urgency, in the public’s interest.”
A call for stronger protections and immediate action
The Waterkeeper Alliance and its partners are now urging swift and decisive government action to curb PFAS contamination.
Their recommendations include setting and enforcing national PFAS limits in drinking water and surface water discharges under the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, banning the land application of PFAS-contaminated biosolids, and regulating PFAS as a chemical class to prevent harmful substitutions and streamline remediation efforts.
As PFAS contamination continues to disproportionately impact vulnerable communities, the need for federal leadership and funding has never been more urgent.
With millions of Americans potentially exposed to these persistent toxins, advocates warn that delaying action risks turning a chemical crisis into a long-term public health disaster.
