Water and Sewer Utilities

There are currently no important notices.

FACTS About PFAS 

Frederick County is dedicated to protecting public health and safety by supplying safe, clean and reliable water to our customers and we support the EPA’s efforts to safeguard public drinking water supplies by addressing emerging contaminants like PFAS compounds. 

Overview:

PFAS are a group of over 6,000 man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in home consumer products such as carpets, clothing, food packaging, and cookware since the 1940s. Two of these compounds—Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)—have been the most extensively produced and studied, and there is evidence that exposure to elevated levels of PFAS can lead to adverse health outcomes in humans.

Water utilities are “passive receivers” of PFAS.  They do not produce or manufacture PFAS. Instead, these chemicals are present in source waters that are treated to produce drinking water. 

On April 10, 2024, EPA finalized a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) establishing legally enforceable levels, called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), for six PFAS in drinking water. PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA as contaminants with individual MCLs, and PFAS mixtures containing at least two or more of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS using a Hazard Index MCL to account for the combined and co-occurring levels of these PFAS in drinking water. 

EPA also finalized health-based, non-enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for these PFAS.

The new enforceable standards are listed in the table below.  

The final rule requires:

Frederick County has been providing PFAS information and level for each water system in our Annual Water Quality Reports since 2022.

We are evaluating the EPA’s Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation published April 10, 2024, and preparing to update all needed operating procedures to ensure we meet EPA requirements for these updated regulatory standards.

Frederick County has been working with the Maryland Department of Environment to gather PFAS information on both source water and treated water since 2021. See the Frederick County Treated Water PFAS Test Results for more information. 

Frederick County’s Next Steps

• We are following the guidance of EPA and MDE.
• If treatment process changes are necessary, we will make them.
• We will continue regular testing of finished water at every county owned Water Treatment facility. 
• Should testing reveal the presence of PFAS compounds at or exceeding the MCLs in finished water, we will upgrade treatment processes as required. 

Advice for Customers to Reduce Exposure to PFAS - Drinking Water is just one pathway for exposure

• Support efforts to protect drinking water sources and keep PFAS out of water supplies.
• Install a treatment process where the water enters the home.  EPA recommends Activated Carbon, Ion Exchange, or High-pressure Membrane treatment.
• Cook with stainless steel, cast-iron, glass, or ceramics. 
• Read ingredient lists and choose products without PTFE or perfluoro- or polyfluor-.
• Look for coats, hats, and boots labeled water-resistant. They’re less likely to have PFAS than waterproof products.
• Make popcorn on the stove or in an air popper instead of microwave bags.
• Avoid ordering food in grease-resistant wrappers or containers.

 Additional Resources:

• EPA’s PFAS Information:  https://www.epa.gov/pfas
• Maryland Department of Environment PFAS—Information on the Maryland Department of the Environment’s efforts to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Maryland’s Drinking Water Sources
• Center for Disease Control (CDC):  https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas 
• American Water Works Association (AWWA):  https://drinktap.org/Water-Info/Whats-in-My-Water/Per-and-Polyfluoroalkyl-Substances
• Environment Protection Agency:  www.epa.gov/sciencematters/reducing-pfas-drinking-water-treatment-technologies

• Water and Sewer Rules and Regulations

No public meetings are currently scheduled.    

To see the proposed changes to the Design Manual and to comment on this document, please visit DESIGN MANUAL FOR WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES UPDATES - PublicInput.

• The Division of Water and Sewer Utilities (DWSU), through responsible management of the County’s water and wastewater infrastructure, strives to provide the community with a safe and dependable water supply and reliable waste disposal services that do not harm the environment or natural resources of Frederick County.
• The Division provides for the planning, engineering, construction, maintenance, regulatory monitoring and operations of the County’s water supply, wastewater disposal and solid waste pollution control infrastructure. 
• Responsibilities and activities are distributed among five (5) departments and one (1) support office within the Division.