Cherokee Metro District responds after tests show higher levels of forever chemicals in drinking water
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Thousands of people on the east side of Colorado Springs are on alert after cancer-causing chemicals were discovered in their drinking water -- following new recommendations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The near 9,000 customers of the the Cherokee Metro District were given a notice in their October bill, that explained the district underwent a voluntary water test in the Summer, in light of new recommended changes by the EPA to the presence of "forever chemicals", otherwise known as PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl compounds) in drinking water.
The notice showed that under the new unofficial federal recommendations, the limit for PFAS chemicals would be 4 parts per trillion (or PPT), which is a drastic decrease from the previous federal recommendations since 2016, which were 70 PPT --a decrease the district calls "unprecedented."
As a result of that voluntary test, the district's water samples were found to have 8.7 ppt of one PFAS chemical "PFOA", making it more than double the allowed level under the newly proposed recommendations from the EPA for drinking water, which the district says could likely take effect officially in 2024. The water was also found to be higher than the "Interim health advisory" that was included by the state, at 0.004 PPT.
It's worth noting, district engineers stated that the level of 0.004 PPT is virtually unmeasurable, in terms of the presence of a compound in a given substance.
Additionally, the chemical "PFOS" was found to be below federal levels at 4 PPT, but above the health advisory level of 0.2 PPT.
"As water providers, it's hard when you're talking about a target that the State hasn't established yet, that we're not regulated for yet -- but we wanted to test and make sure where we stand on all of those." explained Amy Lathen, the General Manager of the Cherokee Metro District.
PFAS and its family of chemicals were first produced in the 1950's and were used in a wide variety of consumer products, like nonstick pans, waterproofing materials, carpets, furniture food packaging, cosmetics, among many others. The presence of those chemicals remain in products today as well.
Lathen, however, told KRDO 13 that the water is still safe to drink, which was stated in the notice as well.
The district also explained that during tests in 2014, and 2020, there was a "non-detect" of PFAS chemicals in their water.
However, the notice given to customers did explain that through human studies on populations that have been exposed to PFOA and PFOS, it can prove the following health effects:
- Impact the immune system
- Increase cholesterol
- Decrease infant birth weight
- Cause changes in liver function
- Cause preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy
- Cause effects on thyroid hormones
- Increase the risk of kidney and testicular cancer (PFOA)
More vulnerable populations include children ages 0-5 years, people who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Now the district says it's trying to accommodate their customers ahead of those anticipated changes to the drinking water levels next year, and they are planning to construct a new water treatment plant to try and meet those standards.
Lathen couldn't give an estimate on how much that new drinking water facility would cost, but said it would at least be "in the millions". However in 2022, the district completed construction on a $43 million waste-water treatment facility, that took two years to complete. Lathen says that project added five to seven or so dollars to each customers bill.
The district said it was looking into a state fund for assisting customers with filtering solutions, a fund that was used by another water service district in El Paso County in late October.
