ACWA tackled two high-priority classes of toxic pollutants—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates—with grant funding from EPA’s Columbia River Basin Restoration Funding Assistance Program. This work, which was completed in December 2024, will help ACWA members prepare for new regulations and will provide tools to support toxics reduction efforts in their communities.
This project advances ACWA’s strategies for reducing PFAS and phthalates through source control/pollution prevention and advocating for policies that are based on sound science and data.
Check out the ACWA resources available now:
- PFAS & Phthalate Public Education and Outreach Toolkit with toxic reduction resource and guidance
- Local Government Product Purchasing Guidelines and Resources to reduce purchases of products with PFAS and phthalates
- Industrial and Business Source Summaries to identify known and potential wastewater discharges of PFAS and phthalates
- Industrial and Business Source Reduction Resources to support wastewater pollution prevention and source control assistance efforts
- ACWA PFAS Monitoring Data Findings Report describing the results of wastewater and biosolids monitoring at Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) in the Columbia River Basin located within Oregon
ACWA also produced a Final Report for the project that provides EPA, ACWA members, and other interested parties with an overview of the purpose, objectives, outputs and outcomes of the project.
Acknowledgements: ACWA developed these products with member volunteers supporting an advisory group and several project subcommittees. ACWA’s strength comes from active member participation, and ACWA members stay informed and gain effective and efficient tools by plugging into various ACWA committees and work groups. We want to acknowledge and thank all of the members who have participated in this project and who have helped make these products effective and useful tools for ACWA members.
Note: The materials for this project were developed under Assistance Agreement No. RB-02J14501-0 was awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. They have not been formally reviewed by EPA. The views expressed in this document are solely those of ACWA and EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this publication.
Stay Informed:
For more information, please see the ACWA toxics reduction grant project overview or contact ACWA at admin@oracwa.org. Also see ACWA’s 2022 white paper—Managing PFAS in Oregon: A Clean Water Agency Perspective— for more information on ACWA’s PFAS strategies and recommendations. Project updates will also be provided at the ACWA Water Quality, Stormwater, Pretreatment, and Biosolids & Recycled Water committee meetings. Sign up to receive committee information by contacting Lisa Landers at admin@oracwa.org.