Click here (pdf document) to view the 2024 Annual Consumer Confidence Report concerning the City of Sauk Rapids' drinking water. Please Note: Adobe Reader may be required to view PDF documents.  Any questions or concerns may be directed to Craig Nelson, Utilities Director, at (320) 258-5318.

 

City of Sauk Rapids PFAS Questions & Answers

Sauk Rapids Q & A

The City of Sauk Rapids, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), continuously monitors its public water system for contaminants, including Per- and Polyfluorolkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS is an emerging contaminant that has been detected in groundwater supplies in cities throughout Minnesota and the country, including Sauk Rapids. The City desires to keep residents informed of how PFAS affects the water supply and what actions the City has taken to ensure the safety of its drinking water.

 

What are PFAS and where can they be found?

·         Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of manmade chemicals.

• Are used widely in many consumer products.
• Are in firefighting foams.
• PFAS can make its way into water and soil from past industrial disposal or spills.
• You cannot see, taste, or smell PFAS in drinking water.
• Exposure to PFAS may lead to health problems, so reducing your exposure to PFAS lowers your risk for these health problems

 

How did PFAS get in the water?

The City of Sauk Rapids and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) are continuing to investigate how PFAS may have gotten into the City’s water sources.

 

What is the City of Sauk Rapids doing to address PFAS in the water?

• The City has shut down Wells #2 and #3, which were tested to contain elevated levels of PFAS. These wells are no longer active and have been relegated to emergency use only.
• Construction of new Wells #7, #8, and #9 to supply additional water to the Sauk Rapids Water Treatment Plant.
• Continuing to monitor PFAS levels to remain in compliance with federally regulated PFAS compounds.

 

Is it safe to use and drink my tap water?

Yes. With the on-going actions taken by the City, water from the Sauk Rapids Water Treatment Plant is within the maximum contaminant levels established by the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). The City continuously monitors its public water system to ensure the safety and quality of the drinking water.

 

Contaminant	EPA’s Limit (MCL)	Latest Single Test Result	Violation
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)	4.0 ppt	< MRL	NO
Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS)	4.0 ppt	0.99 ppt	NO

 

MCL (Maximum contaminant level): The highest level of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

MRL (Maximum reporting limit): The lowest concentration that a laboratory can reliably report as a quantifiable value.

ppt (parts per trillion): One part per trillion is like one drip in one trillion drops of water, or about one drop in an Olympic sized swimming pool. ppt is the same as nanograms per liter (ng/L).

 

How can I remove PFAS from my water? What should I buy or what is recommended?

• Filters containing activated carbon or reverse osmosis membranes have been shown to be effective at removing PFAS from water supplies.

o   Point-of-use (POU) systems come in a range of sizes and some require a licensed plumber or water treatment specialist to install properly.

o   You should contact a water treatment specialist to make sure the filter model you choose meets your needs.

o   There are also small POU systems that homeowners can install themselves on the sink faucet for drinking and cooking water.

• All water treatment units require regular maintenance to work properly.
• Water treatment units that are not properly maintained will lose their effectiveness over time. 
• Other types of common water treatment systems, such as water softeners, are not likely to remove PFAS.
• Boiling water will not remove PFAS.

 

The EPA has published a Fact Sheet for reducing PFAS in drinking water with a home filter:

https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-04/water-filter-fact-sheet.pdf

 

Additional Resources:

 

MDH has a factsheet on reducing exposures to PFAS located at: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/hazardous/docs/pfas/pfasreducingexp.pdf

 

Another source that may also be helpful is: https://pfas-exchange.org/wp-content/uploads/PFAS-Tip-Sheet_Reduce-exposure-web.pdf