Press Release

To:    For Immediate Release

From:    David Parent, Superintendent

Date:    October 11, 2022

RE:      PFAS results for the Sanford Water District sources  

 

The Sanford Water District is pleased to report that samples from all water supply sources have passed testing for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).  In 2021, the Maine Legislature passed legislation regulating six PFAS compounds. Test results of the six compounds are combined into one total PFAS number, which cannot be over 20 parts per trillion.

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In August and September 2022, the Sanford Water District tested all six active water supply sources for PFAS. Samples from three of the six sources had no PFAS detected while samples from three sources showed a combined total of the PFAS compounds well below the maximum allowable limit.  

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The Sanford Water District is committed to providing safe drinking water and will continue to follow PFAS regulations as they develop. “Our customers can rest assured that Sanford water sources are not a source of significance exposure to PFAS,” said David Parent, superintendent of the water district. “We are continuously testing and monitoring water sources to make sure our water is safe. Most of us who work at the water district also live here. Our families, friends, and neighbors are all relying on us to keep Sanford water safe.” 

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Although PFAS is prevalent in the environment, they do not naturally occur in the environment. They are manmade synthetic substances that many industries have been manufacturing and using since the 1940s. Thousands of PFAS compounds are utilized in countless consumer products, such as nonstick cookware, clothing, fast food packaging, carpeting, personal care and cosmetic products, and firefighting foams. According to the Environmental Protection Agency website, “PFAS are found in water, air, fish, and soil at locations across the nation and the globe.” 

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People interested in learning more about PFAS and how to reduce their potential exposure can read more at the EPA website: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained

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Please call the district office at (207) 324-2312 with any questions on the Sanford Water District’s PFAS sampling.