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Release of Perflourochemicals (PFCs) from the Dalton Utilities Loopers Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant (Dalton Utilities) in Dalton, Georgia

EPA recently received information from Dalton Utilities that PFCs have been detected in soil, wastewater effluent, groundwater, sewage sludge, and compost at its Loopers Bend wastewater treatment facility, and in the adjacent Conasauga River.

Due to their proximity to the Loopers Bend facility, EPA collected and analyzed drinking water from the public water supply systems of Dalton, Calhoun, Shannon, and Rome, Georgia. The details of sampling event and analytical results are provided in EPA’s sampling investigation trip report and public drinking water sample analyses summary report. The public water sample results indicated the levels of two PFCs, perfluorooctonaoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS), in community water systems are below the drinking water Provisional Health Advisory (PHA) released by EPA in early January 2009.

Dalton Utilities conducted a survey to identify private drinking water wells in the immediate vicinity of the land application system in order to sample the wells for PFCs. Of the 110 private drinking water wells sampled within a 1-mile radius around the Loopers Bend facility, only one well was determined to have concentrations of PFOS slightly above EPA’s PHA. Dalton Utilities has voluntarily provided this residence with bottled water, and will continue to provide bottled water until a permanent alternative source of drinking water is found.

The Loopers Bend sewage sludges (also called biosolids) have been composted and sold to businesses and individuals in the Dalton area since 2003. According to Dalton Utilities, approximately 80 million pounds have been sold and distributed. Dalton Utilities ceased its distribution of the compost in July 2009, after receiving data indicating elevated levels of PFCs.

Dalton Utilities is cooperating with the EPA, Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD), and Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) to assess the potential impact of groundwater and compost PFC contamination on the surrounding community.

 

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EPA Sampling Activities

In January 2009, EPA established drinking water Provisional Health Advisories (PHA) for two of the PFCs: PFOA and PFOS. The Provisional Health Advisory levels are 0.4 parts per billion (ppb) [micrograms per liter (ug/L)] for PFOA and 0.2 ppb for PFOS.

In late March 2009, EPA collected and analyzed the drinking water from the public water systems of Rome, Dalton, Calhoun and Shannon, Georgia due to their proximity to the Dalton Utilities wastewater treatment plant. Concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in the samples collected from the four drinking water systems indicated no exceedances of the PFOA or PFOS PHA values.

In May 2009, EPA asked Dalton Utilities to investigate the potential for PFC contamination in its Loopers Bend wastewater land application sprayfield and the compost generated by the facility. In response, in June 2009, Dalton Utilities collected and analyzed samples from its sprayfield site including soil, groundwater monitoring wells, and effluent. It also sampled sewage sludge and compost produced in the wastewater treatment process, and surface water samples from the Conasauga River and a tributary, Holly Creek.

On July 20, 2009, Dalton Utilities submitted its report to EPA with detailed analyses, methods and results for the water and solids samples collected in response to EPA’s May 20, 2009 information request under Section 308 of the Clean Water Act. EPA met with Dalton Utilities on July 27, 2009 to discuss the results of the sampling study. As a result of this meeting, Dalton Utilities submitted a subsequent report to EPA, dated August 5, 2009, with further characterization of the PFCs in its compost.

The analytical results from these two reports indicate:

EPA has not established guidance levels for PFCs, including PFOA or PFOS, in soil, wastewater effluent, sewage sludge, compost or surface water as it has for drinking water.

In July 2009, Dalton Utilities also conducted a survey to identify private drinking water wells in the immediate vicinity of the land application system in order to sample the wells for PFCs. To date, Dalton has sampled all 110 private water wells in a 1-mile radius around the Loopers Bend facility, and has received analytical results for 108 of the 110. Of these 108 private water wells, 94 have no detectable levels of PFCs. Thirteen wells have detectable level below the provisional health advisories. One private well was determined to have concentrations of PFOS slightly above EPA’s PHA. Dalton Utilities has voluntarily provided this residence with bottled water, and will continue to provide bottled water until a permanent alternative source of drinking water is found. Dalton Utilities is notifying residents of the results of the sampling.

Sampling Results

Future Activities

EPA continues to work with GA EPD, GA DNR, and Dalton Utilities concerning additional sampling and studies in the Dalton area.

Dalton Utilities has committed to conducting further evaluation in nearby areas including:

Data will be posted to this website as it becomes available.

GA EPD is reviewing analytical results from fish tissue samples taken from the Conasauga River to determine if any follow-up actions are warranted.

EPA will keep the public informed once the analyses are complete.

Background Information

For information about the contents of this page please contact
Connie Roberts (roberts.connie@epa.gov)

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