IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
MCB Camp Pendleton Northern Water System and Southern Water System, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
The health and well-being of our service members, their families, and civilian employees remains a high priority for us.
MCB Camp Pendleton routinely monitors for the presence of drinking water contaminants. On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced a final rule on drinking water standards for certain PFAS under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The rule establishes maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for several PFAS in drinking water, provides three years for regulated drinking water systems to begin monitoring and related public notifications, and five years for purveyors to install system improvements to comply with the new MCL levels. As a proactive approach and in anticipation of EPA’s requirements, a Department of Defense (DoD) policy was issued on 11 July 2023 that required testing of all DoD-owned drinking water systems for PFAS by 31 December 2023. Samples from the Northern Water System were collected on 16 Aug 2024 and results were received on 30 Aug 2024. Samples from the Southern Water System were collected on 5 Aug 2024 and 15 Aug 2024 and results were received on 19 August 2024 and 28 Aug 2024. Northern Water System provides drinking water to residents and occupants located in 51-64 Area (excluding San Mateo Point Housing). Southern Water System provides drinking water to residents and occupants located in 11-43 Area.
In accordance with the 11 July 2023 DoD policy mentioned above, we are required to monitor drinking water for PFAS at a minimum of every two years and to notify the public of detectable PFAS in the drinking water supplied by DoD-owned drinking water systems. DoD policy also requires us to take action to provide alternative drinking water if the concentrations of Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) exceed 70 parts per trillion (ppt) (also expressed as nanograms per liter [ng/L]), individually or combined. The sample results are below these levels.
All reported results for the Northern Water System and the Southern Water System are non-detected (< 2 ng/L).
What are Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and where do they come from?
PFAS are a group of thousands of man-made chemicals that have been used in a variety of industrial and consumer products around the world for decades. Due to their widespread use and environmental persistence, most people have been exposed to certain PFAS. They have been used to make coatings and products that are used as oil and water repellents in carpets, clothing, paper packaging for food, and cookware. They are also contained in some aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used for fighting petroleum fires at airfields and for industrial fire suppression.
What does this mean?
Research is still ongoing to understand the mechanisms of PFAS toxicity. The risk of health effects associated with PFAS depends on exposure factors (dose, frequency, route, duration), individual factors (sensitivity and chronic disease burden), and other determinants of health. The epidemiological evidence suggests associations between increases in exposure to specific PFAS and certain health effects. For specific information about the health effects of PFAS exposure, please visit https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/.
Are there regulations for PFAS in drinking water?
As noted above, on April 10, 2024, the EPA announced a final rule on drinking water standards for certain PFAS under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The rule applies to all regulated drinking water purveyors, including Department of Defense (DoD). The rule establishes maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for several PFAS in drinking water, sets forth requirements to establish monitoring and notification requirements within three years, and provides five years for regulated drinking water purveyors to comply with the specified MCL levels. We are working to protect the drinking water on our installation and ensure compliance with EPA standards in advance of the deadline.
What is being done?
MCB Camp Pendleton will continue to monitor for PFAS in the treated drinking water for Northern Water System and Southern Water System on a periodic basis as directed by DoD policy and take appropriate action, as required. Additionally, MCB Camp Pendleton in coordination with Marine Corps Installations Command and joint service partners will continue to evaluate the potential need for mitigation measures, as necessary. MCB Camp Pendleton will post sampling results of detected PFAS on the installation’s public webpage and in the drinking water system’s Consumer Confidence Report(s) (accessible at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton > Main Menu > Staff & Agencies > Assistant Chief of Staff G-F > Water Resources Division (marines.mil). These efforts and required DOD timelines are in advance of EPA requirements noted in their recent regulations.
What can I do?
There is nothing you need to do, as there is no immediate risk to the general population. You may continue to use the water for all consumptive purposes (drinking, bathing, showering, cooking, dishwashing, and maintaining oral hygiene).
For more information, please visit https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained, or inquiries to Water Resources Division Water Section at 760-725-0602. If you have any questions concerning PFAS in Camp Pendleton's drinking water, you can also visit the Interactive Customer Evaluation site, here.
This notice is being sent to you by Public Works Department/Water Resources Division
Date distributed: 17 SEP 2024