Fairfax Water Works to Meet PFAS Deadlines

 Jamie Hedges, P.E., CEO of Fairfax Water

Test results show some samples exceed ‘maximum contaminant levels’ set by EPA

HB 2050, introduced by Del. David Bulova (D-11), was signed into law by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin in April 2025. “The bill requires certain facilities to monitor for PFAS on or before October 1, 2025, using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Method 1633 or an alternative method approved by the EPA.” 

PFAS, a group of chemicals known as “forever chemicals” can accumulate in the environment and in living organisms, including people and animals. Extensive scientific research has linked exposure to PFAS to serious health issues, even at very low levels.

Fairfax Water’s 2025 Annual Report on Water Quality. reveals that levels of PFAS at one of its water treatment plants exceeded the federal health standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While the utility reports its water is safe to drink, the findings at the Frederick P. Griffith Jr. Water Treatment Plant have prompted a multifaceted response from the public water authority.

Most people in Fairfax County, depending on where they live, get their water from two sources: the Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir. The water is treated at the James J. Corbalis Jr. plant in Herndon or the Frederick P. Griffith Jr. treatment plant in Lorton. Both are owned and operated by Fairfax Water. The water from the two plants can be blended to meet demand since the distribution pipes are interconnected. 

The annual report documents that individual sample PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) levels at the Griffith Plant ranged from 3.7 to 8.7 parts per trillion (ppt), with an average of 5.5 ppt. PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) levels ranged from 3.0 to 6.2 ppt, with an average of 4.3 ppt. The average concentrations exceeded the 4.0 ppt maximum contaminant level set by the EPA. Fairfax Water notes that the regulatory standard for compliance is the yearly average, not the highest individual sample. While some individual test results at the Griffith Plant have exceeded the 4.0 ppt MCL, the plant's overall yearly average has not.

The Potomac-sourced water treated at the Corbalis Plant in Herndon has consistently tested below the new EPA maximum contaminant level of 4.0 ppt for PFOA and PFOS. 

A Fairfax Water document from February 2024 states that results have ranged from "ND" (non-detect) to 3.2 ppt for PFOA and "ND" to 3.4 ppt for PFOS. The average concentrations were 1.0 ppt for PFOA and 1.2 ppt for PFOS, both below the 4.0 ppt maximum contaminant level. 

This history of consistent results at the Herndon treatment plant (Corbalis) is a key part of Fairfax Water's messaging, as it contrasts with the situation at the Griffith Plant.

To understand the full scope of the toxicity issue, it is essential to recognize that scientific research indicates that even very small amounts of "forever chemicals" pose a health risk. The  C8 Science Panel, a cornerstone of research on the health effects of PFOA, concluded there was a "probable link" between C8 (PFOA) exposure and diagnosed high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer and pregnancy-induced hypertension.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a federal public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, conducted research and published a toxicological profile for PFAS. According to the agency, "ongoing research has identified associations between PFAS exposure and several other health impacts." For PFOA and PFOS, the impacts include pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, lower antibody response to some vaccines and increases in cholesterol levels and changes in liver enzymes.

Fairfax Water's state-certified Water Quality Laboratory performs or manages the testing required by federal and state regulations. The utility's  2025 Annual Report on Water Quality. notes that nearly 45,000 data points were collected from approximately 10,000 water samples for 203 parameters in 2024. According to Fairfax Water, a part per trillion is equivalent to one gallon of water in 1,514,570 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The utility offers another analogy: one ppt corresponds to one penny in $10 billion. The utility notes that "the ability to test compounds in water to these minute levels is relatively new."

Fairfax Water is an independent public water authority, not directly operated by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, but the board does have a role in its governance. The utility is governed by a 10-member Board of Directors, which consists of Fairfax County citizens appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The annual Water Quality Report, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), is a requirement of the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act. It must include information on detected contaminants.

Fairfax Water's plan to address the issue is a multifaceted approach to ensure compliance with the EPA's new regulations. The utility has implemented several measures as part of a long-term plan. A summary of a Board of Supervisors Environmental Committee meeting on Oct. 29, 2024, highlighted a presentation by Jamie Hedges, the general manager and CEO of Fairfax Water.

The summary states that Hedges discussed the utility's efforts and noted that "the region will not be able to comply with the EPA's latest regulations, due to take effect in 2029, unless additional treatment processes are put into effect." The EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Level of 4.0 ppt for PFOA and PFOS rule was finalized in April 2024. Hedges also outlined Fairfax Water's "roadmap to compliance" and the associated costs.

Fairfax Water is currently pilot-testing various PFAS treatment options, such as Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) and Ion Exchange, to identify the most effective solution. They are also conducting watershed studies in collaboration with partners like the Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory and Virginia Tech. 

The utility’s approach is part of a "One Water" strategy, which aims to identify and reduce the sources of PFAS pollution before the chemicals enter the drinking water supply. Hedges's support for legislative action, such as Virginia House Bill 2050 (HB 2050), is also documented in the meeting minutes.