City of Bonney Lake

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of human-made chemicals. Since the 1940s, PFAS have been used around the world in industry and in consumer products such as food packaging, non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and firefighting foam. These synthetic chemicals can enter the environment and water supplies from multiple sources and do not break down easily, which is why PFAS are sometimes called “forever chemicals.”

On April 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS compounds. These regulations set the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFAS in drinking water. MCLs are the legal threshold limit on the amount of a given substance that is allowed in drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Public water systems must monitor for these PFAS and provide information to community members. Public water systems will have five years (by 2029) to implement solutions to reduce these PFAS if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed the MCLs. Beginning in 2029, public water systems that have PFAS in drinking water exceeding the established MCLs must take action to reduce levels of PFAS in their drinking water. The federal MCLs for PFAS will supersede the Washington State Action Levels upon the Washington State Board of Health’s adoption of the federal MCLs, which is expected within the next two years.

In 2021, the Washington State Board of Health adopted State Action Levels for five PFAS that set testing and notification requirements for some water providers, including Bonney Lake, starting in 2024. State Action Levels are set to protect human health and based on the best available science at the time. PFAS chemicals are still being researched and health advice is updated as new science becomes available. State Action Levels are public health goals to protect all people, including sensitive groups and life stages, from potential harmful effects of drinking water with PFAS over a lifetime.

Once the Washington State Board of Health adopts the federal MCLs set by EPA, the federal MCLs will supersede Washington’s State Action Levels for PFAS. Until then, the State Action Levels remain in effect.

Learn more at doh.wa.gov/pfas.

The City of Bonney Lake (“The City”) serves drinking water that fully complies with all federal and state regulations governing safe levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (“PFAS”) in drinking water. The City is providing a quarterly update about PFAS sampling results to enable drinking water customers to stay informed.

Quarterly Update – June 2024:
Drinking water samples collected from the Bonney Lake Water System (PWS ID# 07650H) sources included detections of the following PFAS at levels below MCLs for drinking water, as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The levels of PFAS found in Bonney Lake’s water supply are below all thresholds in state and federal regulations. The City of Bonney Lake’s drinking water is supplied by groundwater pumped from springs at Victor Falls and Grainger Springs, well water from the City’s Tacoma Point and Ball Park sites, and additional water sourced from Tacoma Public Utility. Recent sampling and testing yielded the following results.

City of Bonney Lake's PFAS Results from May 22, 2024, and June 24, 2024, Sampling.

Analyte	Victor Falls EPTDS (ppt)	Grainger Springs EPTDS (ppt)	Tacoma Water EPTDS (ppt)	Ball Field Well EPTDS (ppt)	Tacoma Pt Wells 2 & 4 (ppt)	EPA’s 2024 Final MCLs (ppt)	WA 2021 SALs (ppt)
PFOA	2.0	ND	ND	ND	ND	4	10
PFOS	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND	4	15
PFHxS	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND	10*	65
GenX	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND	10*	N/A
PFNA	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND	10*	9
PFBS	5.4	ND	ND	3.3	ND	N/A*	365
PFHxA	2.4	ND	ND	ND	ND	N/A	N/A
PFBA	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND	N/A	N/A
PFPeA	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND	N/A	N/A

Note: ND = non detect; ppt-parts per trillion (1 ppt is equivalent to a single drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools)

* Regulated as part of a unitless "Hazard Index"

     

The City continues to take actions to ensure that the drinking water it serves will continue to be safe, including:

• Testing the water supply: Operations staff continue to test and monitor water quality in compliance with state and federal requirements to ensure a safe water supply.
• Finding long-term solutions: Expert consultants are investigating potential sources of PFAS and the extent of PFAS in the local groundwater supply.
•  Sharing information: Up-to-date information on PFAS and test results are being shared with all customers and the public so you can make informed decisions.

The City is committed to keeping the community informed. We will continue to share actions the City is taking to keep your water safe and provide updates as we learn more about treatment options and receive updates from federal and state authorities. Timely information will be posted on this webpage. The annual Water Quality Report is another way you can learn about the quality of the City’s water and PFAS updates.

Learn more as science evolves

There are thousands of types of PFAS, and public health agencies and scientists are still studying how long-term exposure to PFAS may affect people’s health. As reported by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), current scientific research suggests that exposure to high levels of certain PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes.

There is a lot that we do not yet know but as the science evolves so do our drinking water standards.

• In 2021, the Washington State Board of Health adopted new State Action Levels for PFAS in drinking water that set conservative levels at which experts say no adverse effects are expected over a lifetime of drinking the water, even in sensitive populations. The state also requires additional sampling when results are above the State Action Level. The State Action Level does not establish a requirement for PFAS treatment at this time.
• In 2023, EPA proposed a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six types of PFAS known to occur in drinking water. The proposed rule does not require any action until finalized, but if approved would set enforceable levels of PFAS in drinking water and require public water systems to monitor for these PFAS, notify the public of the levels of these PFAS, and reduce the levels of these PFAS in drinking water if they exceed the proposed standards.
• On April 10, 2024, EPA announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS compounds. These regulations set the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFAS in drinking water. Once the Washington State Board of Health adopts the federal MCLs set by EPA, the federal MCLs will supersede Washington’s State Action Levels for PFAS. Until then, the State Action Levels remain in effect.

Explore additional information from partner agencies

PFAS are present in many everyday household materials including non-stick cookware, food packaging, clothing, and furniture. Minimizing exposure to PFAS will require ongoing reductions of sources of PFAS in our daily environment. If you are concerned about potential health effects from exposure to PFAS, please contact your doctor or health care professional.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Meaningful and Achievable Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk
  • Learn about certified in-home water treatment filters
• Washington State Department of Health
  • PFAS Questions and Answers
  • How to Reduce Exposure to PFAS in Your Tap Water
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
  • PFAS and Your Health
• Washington State Department of Ecology
  • PFAS Chemical Action Plan

The levels of PFAS found in Bonney Lake’s water supply are well below all applicable limits in state and federal regulations. Federal and state regulators set these limits based on public health studies, available treatment technology, public input, and other costs and benefits. If you are concerned about potential health impacts from exposure to PFAS, contact your health care provider.

Although not naturally occurring, PFAS are widespread in the environment and have been found in drinking water supplies across the country, including in Washington State. In general, PFAS are most commonly found near sites where industrial or consumer products with PFAS have been made or used. The City is investigating possible sources of the low levels of PFAS found in the local water supply.

In 2024, EPA finalized federal regulations for six PFAS compounds. These regulations set the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFAS in drinking water. Public water systems must monitor for these PFAS and provide information to community members. Washington has also created State Action Levels for PFAS and requires that water providers like Bonney Lake monitor drinking water for PFAS from 2023 through 2025. These federal and state recommended limits are set to protect all people, including sensitive populations and life stages, from health impacts resulting from exposure to PFAS throughout their lives.

The City is actively sharing information with customers and investigating potential PFAS impacts to the water supply. We completed sampling and detected PFAS at levels below federal and state limits in two out of five of the City’s water sources in June 2024. We will continue sampling and testing and sharing the latest test results on this webpage under City Of Bonney Lake PFAS Testing Results.

Water from all the City’s water sources is blended as it moves through our distribution system. Accordingly, the already minimal levels of PFAS present in certain individual water sources are even further diluted when those water sources are mixed with water sources that contain no detectable levels of PFAS.

Continuing to provide our customers with high-quality, reliable drinking water while in compliance with EPA and DOH requirements is the City’s top priority. Since detecting low levels of PFAS in our local supplies, we are working to research possible sources and better understand potential impacts from PFAS.

The science around health impacts from PFAS exposure is still evolving and there is active research underway to learn more. Some studies suggest long-term exposure to high levels of PFAS may lead to increased cholesterol levels, increases in high-blood pressure and pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, decreases in immune response, changes in liver function and increases in the risk for certain types of cancer. You can learn more from the Washington State Department of Health or by consulting with your health care provider.

The City of Bonney Lake’s water outperforms all federal and state drinking water standards for PFAS. There are pathways for PFAS exposure beyond ingestion through water, however. Most people in the U.S. have been exposed to PFAS and have PFAS in their blood. If you are concerned about PFAS in your water, you can reduce exposure by installing a water filter with activated carbon or reverse osmosis membranes or by using an alternate source for drinking, cooking and preparing infant formula. If you have specific health concerns about PFAS exposure, we encourage you to consult your health care provider. More information is also available from the Washington State Department of Health.

No, heating or boiling water does not remove PFAS.

Please see the tab “Where can I find additional information about PFAS and public health advice?” below or consult your healthcare provider.

Please see the tab “Where can I find additional information about PFAS and public health advice?” below or consult your healthcare provider.

Explore additional information about PFAS and public health advice from the following federal and state agencies:

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
    o Meaningful and Achievable Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk
    o Learn about certified in-home water treatment filters

• Washington State Department of Health
    o PFAS Questions and Answers Including How to Reduce Exposure to PFAS in Your Tap Water

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
    o PFAS and Your Health

• Washington State Department of Ecology
    o PFAS Chemical Action Plan