As your water utility provider, Washington Water is committed to providing reliable, high-quality water service to customers in the Eagle Estates water system by meeting all state and federal water quality standards. In anticipation of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) becoming regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in accordance with State of Washington guidelines, we have been testing and monitoring the water sources in your system for these PFAS. 

As background, in 2021, the Washington State Department of Health (State) established State Action Levels (SALs) for five PFAS and directed water suppliers with their own sources to begin testing for them between 2023-2025. Then, in April 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for certain PFAS, including maximum contaminant levels (MCLs); water suppliers must bring their systems into compliance with the new MCLs by April 2029. This year, the State aligned its SALs with the federal PFAS MCLs that are scheduled to be effective in April 2029, so that federal and state PFAS regulations for drinking water are consistent. While our water sources were compliant with the prior SALs, test results for certain sources are higher than the new SALs.

In accordance with State guidelines, we notify affected customers when the average of our results exceeds any SAL. Please note there is nothing required of you at this time. The EPA is providing a five-year implementation period, because potential effects for PFAS exposure are based on lifetime exposure, not acute risk.

Drinking water samples collected from the Eagle Estates system at Wellhead #AAB107 between February 2026 to August 2026 were found to have an average range of:

PFAS Contaminant	Average of Detected Level (ppt*)	SAL (ppt)
PFOA―perfluorooctanoic acid	8.4	4.0
PFOS―perfluorooctane sulfonic acid	12.9	4.0
*ppt―parts per trillion or nanograms per liter.

What are we doing about it?

• We will continue to test our water for these PFAS, in accordance with all applicable requirements.
• We are assessing treatment options that are intended to remove the relevant PFAS from the water system. Funding, design, and installation of treatment can take several years; however, we are committed to installing treatment and complying with the new, federal regulation by the current compliance deadline in April 2029. 
• We are informing you of these test results and related actions so that you are aware of not only this issue, but also the steps we are taking to address it. While we did not cause the PFAS to be in the groundwater, we are committed to appropriate treatment.
• We support the EPA’s establishment of a national drinking water standard for these PFAS compounds, which was announced in April 2024 with a current compliance deadline of April 2029. As mentioned above, the EPA is providing a five-year implementation period, because potential effects for PFAS exposure are based on lifetime exposure, not acute risk.
• We are pursuing legal action against PFAS manufacturers to hold them responsible for the costs to treat impacted source water for PFAS so as to reduce the financial impact of treatment on our customers.
• We are continuing to work closely with the Washington State Department of Health.

What do we know about PFAS?

PFAS are a large family of chemicals that are tasteless, colorless, and odorless. They are manmade compounds that have been used to make carpets, clothing, fabrics for furniture, paper packaging for food, and other materials (e.g., cookware) that are resistant to water, grease, or stains. They have been used for firefighting, at industrial plants, and in other sources, which are a few ways these chemicals could have seeped from surface soil into the groundwater in some areas.   

What are the potential health effects?

Human health effects of PFAS are still being actively researched, and health advice continues to evolve. Some people who drink water containing PFAS in excess of the SAL over many years may experience problems with their cholesterol, liver, thyroid, kidney, or cardiovascular or immune system; have high blood pressure during pregnancy; have babies with lower birthweights or that experience developmental effects; and be at higher risk of getting certain types of cancers. You can learn more at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/index.

What should you do?

As noted, there is nothing required of you at this time. 

• While exposure to PFAS comes from a variety of sources, you can learn more about PFAS in drinking water online at:
  • www.wawater.com/pfas
  • www.doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/contaminants/pfas
  • www.ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/reducing-toxic-chemicals/addressing-priority-toxic-chemicals/pfas
  • www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/index
• Boiling water to reduce PFAS is not effective.
• If you have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your healthcare provider.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or mixing infant formula with tap water, you may wish to consider using an alternative drinking water source. You can also install water treatment in your home, using point-of-use treatment such as reverse osmosis or an activated carbon filter that is certified to lower the levels of PFAS in your water. There are several different types of filters you can purchase depending on your budget and water flow rate. For details, visit www.doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/331-699.pdf.
• Please share this notice with others who may drink this water but may not have received this notice directly.

We will keep you updated on any new developments and remain committed to protecting our customers’ health and safety. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us toll-free at (888) 490-3741 or via email at [email protected].

This document is also available as a downloadable PDF.