Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.) produces and distributes high quality drinking water that meets all state and federal regulatory requirements.

On April 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) National Primary Drinking Water Regulation that established Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and MCL Goals (MCLGs) for six PFAS compounds as detailed at right.

The final rule requires that public water systems monitor for PFAS beginning in 2027 and implement solutions to reduce PFAS by 2029 if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed these MCLs.

For more information on the final regulations, please visit the EPA’s website.

What are PFAS compounds?

Since the 1940s, PFAS compounds have been widely used in the manufacturing of carpets, clothing, fabrics for furniture, paper packaging for food and other materials. They are also used for firefighting and in industrial processes. EPA says most people are exposed to these chemicals through consumer products. Drinking water can be an additional source of exposure in communities where these chemicals have entered the water supplies.

PFAS are a large family of compounds, up to 5,000 chemicals. EPA says most uses of PFOA and PFOS were voluntarily phased out by U.S. manufacturers in the mid-2000s. There are a limited number of ongoing uses, and these chemicals remain in the environment due to their persistence and the inability to degrade.

What are PFAS levels in M.U.D.’s drinking water?

Beginning in November of 2024, M.U.D. is required to monitor for PFAS under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5). Our water quality lab samples our source waters, the treated drinking water leaving our three treatment plants and the water distribution system.  This is in addition to the monitoring that will be required under the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation beginning in 2027.

Our most recent tests show that all PFAS compounds are below the MCLs established in the new PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation.

We provide PFAS monitoring results in our annual consumer confidence report available on M.U.D.’s website.

What are M.U.D. and EPA recommending to consumers?

M.U.D. customers may continue to drink tap water. EPA interim advisories do not recommend that consumers stop using tap water, nor do they recommend the use of bottled water. M.U.D.’s treated drinking water continues to meet all state and federal regulatory requirements.

If you have questions, please contact M.U.D. at 402.554.6666.

For more information, please see the EPA Fact Sheet or click the link below.