How UCMR5 Monitoring Updates the Record Beyond UCMR3
The current UCMR5 survey conducted by the EPA for the Payson Town of public water system introduces a broader scope of PFAS compounds and fewer non-detect samples at very low reporting levels compared to the earlier UCMR3 effort. Specifically, UCMR5 includes newer PFAS compounds like PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBA, and PFHpA in addition to the legacy PFOA and PFOS. These compounds are measured at detection thresholds as low as 0.003 to 0.005 micrograms per litre (µg/L), allowing for more detailed detection in groundwater sources than before. This new data offers Payson residents fresher insight into the fluorinated compounds present in their public water supply system.
Meaning of Nanograms per Litre and Significance of Four Decimal Places
PFAS concentrations in the Payson water system are expressed in nanograms per litre (ng/L), equivalent to parts per trillion (ppt), a unit illustrating extremely low substance levels. For example, a detected PFOA concentration of 0.0409 µg/L translates to 40.9 ng/L or ppt. The use of four decimal places in results—such as 0.0181 µg/L (18.1 ng/L)—reflects high analytical precision, essential for understanding the subtle variations in these compounds' presence. This detailed resolution guides technical assessments in selecting suitable water treatment methods that can reliably reduce fluorinated compounds near or below federal benchmarks.
Interpreting Median and Range PFAS Levels: A Homeowner's Example
For Payson's public water system, PFOA recorded median detected levels around 0.0181 µg/L (18.1 ng/L) with the highest observation at 0.0409 µg/L (40.9 ng/L). PFOS showed a median near 0.0171 µg/L (17.1 ng/L), peaking at 0.0422 µg/L (42.2 ng/L). These figures describe detected concentrations over multiple samples and signify that typical concentrations are generally below the upcoming federal maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4.0 ng/L for each compound. However, more than 20 results for each surpass this MCL threshold as raw detections, reflecting the survey’s analytical sensitivity rather than regulatory exceedance for individual households. Understanding this helps homeowners weigh technical options without assuming these detections imply a health violation.
Sample Size and Data Robustness in This Monitoring Period
The UCMR5 data for Payson's system is based on 52 sample results collected from multiple groundwater wells serving the area. This repeated sampling over the course of 2023 through mid-2024 provides a relatively robust dataset to characterize PFAS presence in the public water supply. Yet, each result reflects a system-wide level, not a single household’s tap water. The sample size supports general trends but does not substitute for household-specific water testing to understand a particular well’s chemistry. Households need to consider their own water analysis to make fully informed treatment decisions.
How Public System Data Differs from Private Well Testing
Records like those for Payson represent concentrations in the municipal water system drawn from regional groundwater wells. This data informs about the larger supply but cannot replace individual well sampling. Private wells can have different PFAS profiles due to local contamination sources, geologic variation, or plumbing materials. Municipal figures provide context but homeowners relying on private groundwater should obtain their own test results to determine actual PFAS levels in their tap water and tailor treatment accordingly.
Regional Entry Points of PFAS into Groundwater and Distribution
In Gila County, PFAS compounds including PFOA and PFOS enter groundwater primarily through historic industrial activity, firefighting foam residues, and landfill leachate. These 'forever chemicals' persist in the environment due to their stable chemical bonds, slowly migrating into water supplies used by towns like Payson. Groundwater extraction and water distribution practices then deliver these compounds into household taps. The pervasive nature of fluorinated compounds underlines the importance of treatment technologies capable of reducing a broad range of PFAS with varied chain lengths and chemical properties.
Summary and Reference to Government Source
The 2023-2024 EPA UCMR5 monitoring data for the Payson public water system, serving 17,682 people through groundwater supply, documents detections of various PFAS compounds including PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS. While no health-based violations are recorded, the data points to measurable presence of these substances at nanogram-per-litre levels. This dataset covers multiple wells and samples across the system, representing the public supply rather than individual household water. Residents must test their own water to confirm specific conditions. The Fleck PFAS Forever Chemicals Filter ships ready to configure for households seeking to reduce PFAS exposure based on their personal testing and choice of treatment approach. For official details, visit the EPA SDWIS public water system record for Payson, Gila County.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2024-05-20. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025) for PAYSON TOWN OF (AZ0404032), AZ: 520 results across 10 listed contaminants, 196 detections above the reporting level; 56 results above a 2024 federal MCL
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