If You Wonder Whether Local Firefighting Foam, Textile Work, or Landfills Affect Your Water
The EPA’s records for the Western Virginia Water Authority, which provides drinking water to Roanoke City, indicate the water source is surface water serving about 182,700 people. Federal monitoring under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) detected several types of PFAS—including PFOA and PFOS—at low levels in this system through 2023 and into 2024.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, sometimes called ‘forever chemicals’ due to their persistence, can originate from various sources. These include firefighting foams historically used at airports or military sites, textile finishing operations that use fluorinated chemicals to impart water repellency, and landfills that may leach PFAS into nearby water bodies. In Roanoke City’s system, detections of PFOA and PFOS, though low, suggest some regional presence but do not specify or confirm local contamination sources. Determining such sources requires specialized environmental assessments beyond the EPA’s system-wide sampling.
If You Are Comparing Granular Activated Carbon with Ion-Exchange Resin for Reducing PFAS
Two common treatment approaches differ in how they interact with PFAS compounds. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters can adsorb many types of PFAS, especially longer-chain ones like PFOA and PFOS. Ion-exchange resins work by exchanging ions and can be more selective or efficient for certain shorter-chain PFAS. Because the EPA detected PFOA and PFOS above reporting levels but not others like PFHxS and PFNA in this system, a treatment technology tailored to effectively reduce these detected types is key.
It is important to understand that both media have documented use in reducing PFAS from residential water supplies. The C-Series PFAS Forever Chemicals Filter utilizes a combination of these technologies, designed for household water treatment, shipping ready to configure for the user’s existing plumbing setup.
If You Are Concerned About Aesthetic Secondary Standards versus Health-Based Limits for PFAS
Water quality regulations include health-based maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and aesthetic secondary standards that address taste, odor, staining, and corrosivity. For PFAS, the federal government has established health-based MCLs effective in 2024. The highest detected concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in this system exceed the very low federal MCL threshold of 4.0 nanograms per liter (parts per trillion), but these findings are from a federal monitoring program and do not indicate a violation. Such detections do not equate to unsafe water. They rather highlight the presence of fluorinated compounds at trace levels, leaving the decision about treatment and testing to the household.
If You Notice Differences Between the UCMR5 Survey and Earlier UCMR3 Data
The UCMR5 monitoring conducted recently expands and refines the list of PFAS compounds tested compared to UCMR3. Some compounds present in UCMR5 were not included in previous surveys, and reporting levels for detection are now considerably lower. This means that detections in UCMR5 can sometimes appear where earlier data showed no presence, reflecting advances in analytical chemistry rather than changes in water quality alone.
For Roanoke City’s water system, UCMR5 monitoring included 38 samples taken between September 2023 and June 2024. This gives a snapshot of the occurrence of various PFAS compounds in the surface water–sourced supply, providing a foundation for households to understand the regional water profile.
If You Are Looking to Interpret What ‘Detected,’ ‘Median,’ and ‘Range’ Mean in These Results
In the EPA’s reporting, 'detected' means a compound was measured at or above a specified reporting level, which is the lowest concentration that can be reliably measured, not a violation or harmful exceedance. In Roanoke’s system, PFOA was detected in 1 out of 38 samples, with a highest concentration of 0.0089 micrograms per liter (8.9 nanograms per liter), while PFOS was detected in 6 samples at a highest level of 0.0063 micrograms per liter (6.3 nanograms per liter).
The median of detections reflects the middle value of only the samples with detected compounds, not all samples. These ranges help households gauge variability and frequency but cannot substitute for a home's own water testing.
If You Wonder Which Household Fixtures or Uses Are Affected First by PFAS Presence
PFAS compounds dissolve in water and pass through standard plumbing without visible changes or odor. Because these chemicals persist through many conventional water treatments, appliances that use water directly—such as refrigerators, ice makers, coffee brewers, and drinking water taps—are most relevant points for focused treatment. Bathing and laundry water are less likely to be a primary concern for PFAS due to exposure routes mainly involving ingestion.
Using a dedicated filter like the C-Series PFAS Forever Chemicals Filter at drinking water points can reduce intake exposure and address concerns specific to these 'forever chemicals.'
In summary, EPA's public water system records for the Western Virginia Water Authority provide a regional overview of PFAS detection in Roanoke City's water supply. These federal data show certain fluorinated compounds occur at trace levels in the system’s surface water source but do not specify conditions at any individual residence. Homeowners interested in PFAS reduction should begin with testing their own water and consider targeted treatment options documented for PFAS removal. More detailed information is available from the EPA’s database on the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule at https://www.epa.gov/dwucmr/occurrence-data-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2024-06-11. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025) for WESTERN VIRGINIA WATER AUTHORITY (VA2770900), VA: 380 results across 10 listed contaminants, 10 detections above the reporting level; 7 results above a 2024 federal MCL