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How we keep Tacoma water safe from PFAS

What are PFAS?  

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are human-made chemicals often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t disappear from the environment. These forever chemicals affect human health and the environment, and can build up over time. 

People are exposed to PFAS throughout their everyday lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that PFAS may be found in the blood of 98% of the U.S. population. PFAS contamination has affected drinking water supplies across the country, from individual private wells to large metropolitan utilities that serve millions of people.   

FAQ

Yes, Tacoma’s water is safe to drink and meets all federal and state drinking water regulations.  

Most of the water you receive from Tacoma Water comes from the Green River, where PFAS is not currently a concern. Even when we switch over to use our groundwater well supply that has low PFAS levels (which is common in many groundwater wells), we make sure to meet all the legal PFAS requirements.  

State and federal regulations require us to routinely monitor our water supply for PFAS. We share these results with customers in our annual Water Quality Report.    

We began sampling our water sources for PFAS in 2018, and we continue to routinely sample our active wells to make sure PFAS levels meet the state and federal standards.  We removed the two wells with the highest PFAS levels from service in 2018. 

We detected low levels of PFAS in most of Tacoma Water’s wells, which is common in groundwater wells. For many wells, levels were just barely higher than laboratory detection limits, but some wells do have individual PFAS levels greater than federal standards. 

To lower the PFAS levels in the well water, Tacoma Water prioritizes using the Green River supply. When we need groundwater, we selectively operate wells with lower PFAS concentrations and blend the well water with other water before it enters the system. These actions make sure the PFAS levels in the drinking water meet legal standards.   

To make sure we have a reliable groundwater supply in the future, we worked with an engineering consultant in from 2024-2026 to develop recommendations to treat PFAS in the wells. Over the next few years, we will test the recommended PFAS treatment options so that we can design and finalize the right treatment before we need to rely on groundwater more often.  

When we need well treatment, Tacoma Water will implement the best available treatment methods (these include granular activated carbon or ion exchange treatment). In these treatment processes, water will flow through large vessels containing special materials. PFAS will attach to the materials while clean water exits the vessel.  

This group of human-made chemicals comes from manufacturing activities in the U.S. starting in the 1940s. PFAS is widespread throughout the country, particularly around military bases and airfields. Although some manufacturers are slowly moving away from using PFAS because of human health concerns, many manufacturers still use PFAS in a variety of non-stick, stain-resistant, and water-resistant consumer products (such as waterproof clothing, makeup, and non-stick pans). Certain types of firefighting foam also contain PFAS.  

PFAS do not break down easily in the environment. These forever chemicals have been found in people, wildlife, and water bodies all over the world. PFAS can contaminate drinking water sources and can enter groundwater sources when firefighters use PFAS-containing foams at nearby training facilities, military bases, or airports. 

 At low levels, these chemicals can slowly accumulate and do not break down in the body over time. We now know being exposed to them over long periods of time can increase the risk of health issues such as: 

  • Cancer 
  • Reproductive issues
  • Immune system issues 

For more information about PFAS, including the health and safety risks associated with these compounds, visit the Washington State Department of Health or EPA websites.  

The Washington State Department of Health describes ways you can lower your personal exposure to PFAS. Their website also shows how in-home water filters can help remove PFAS for residents who use private wells or who are worried about PFAS in water from public water systems.