Investigating historic industrial operations as PFAS sources in New Jersey drinking water

Abstract

Compared to other states, New Jersey has reported a higher occurrence of per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in public water supplies. PFASs are stable and persistent in our environment, and exposure to PFAS has been linked to increased health risks. Source identification is a key step in mitigating contamination of drinking water. In this project, public data was searched to compile (1) untreated drinking water supply data and (2) listings of current and former industrial operations with potential to have used, stored, or produced PFASs. Data were geolocated and sorted by watershed. Spatial associations between industrial operations and elevated PFAS levels in drinking water were investigated. Results suggest a greater frequency of industrial operations within a watershed correlates with PFAS detections and exceedances to health-based standards for drinking water. This research utilized an approach that may assist communities in developing strategies to identify their risk to PFAS exposure and begin addressing potential contamination in their sources of drinking water.