Peril in the Pipeline: Unraveling the threads of PFAS contamination in U.S. drinking water systems

Abstract

We examined the spatial distribution of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the US drinking water and explored the relationship between PFAS contamination, public water systems (PWS) characteristics, and socioeconomic attributes of the affected communities. Using data from the EPA’s third Unregulated Contaminant Rule, the Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we identified spatial contamination hot spots and found that PFAS contamination was correlated with PWSs size, non-surface raw water intake sources, population, and housing density. We also found that non-white communities had less PFAS in drinking water. Lastly, we observed that PFAS contamination varied depending on regional industrial composition. The results showed that drinking water PFAS contamination was an externality of not only some industrial activities but also household consumption.