Issue Summary: “Forever Chemicals” in the Water

March 2, 2025 |

By Kimberley Gamez, Source Watershed Protection Manager, City of Waco

Background:

The acronym “PFAS” refers to a group of man-made chemicals which are resistant to heat, water, and oil, and more scientifically are referred to as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. Due to their persistence in the environment, these chemicals have been dubbed, “forever chemicals” and can be found in agricultural land and products, drinking water, waste water, and innumerous consumer products such as food packaging, nonstick coatings, cosmetics, textiles, cleaning products, and firefighting foam.

PFAS chemicals are considered an emerging contaminant, and so only six types of PFAS have Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules for levels in drinking water: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and mixtures of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and PFBS.

The City of Waco water seems to be in pretty good shape, currently. Only 1 of those 6 types was above the laboratory minimum reporting level (PFBA), and the 1 that was reportable was still below maximum. PFBA is a by-product of other PFAS chemicals used for, among other things, paper food packaging.

Legislation:

The following are identical bills that have been filed in the TX House and the TX Senate regarding PFAS

  • HB 1674, 89th session, 2025 – This bill would regulate the sale, production and use of agricultural products that contain PFAS, and create a criminal offense for the sale or use of products that are above certain concentrations of PFAS.
  • SB 886, 89th session, 2025 – This bill would assign a group of agencies to work under the University of Houston to conduct a study regarding the human health effects of PFAS.

References:

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