Newsroom

Annual testing for “forever chemicals” scheduled to start April 2023

BRIDGEPORT, CONN. – March 13, 2023 – Aquarion Water Company today announced the launch of the company’s 2023 Connecticut per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) testing program. During this annual program, scheduled to begin in April, Aquarion will undertake a campaign that tests the company’s 70+ Connecticut public water systems for PFAS.

PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that have been widely used in various industrial and consumer products. Because they do not break down easily in the environment and can persist for decades, PFAS are considered "forever chemicals" and can pose a significant threat to human health. One of the most concerning ways that people can be exposed to PFAS is through drinking water. PFAS enter drinking water sources through a number of avenues, including industrial discharges, common household items, food packaging, septic systems, and the use of firefighting foam.

“Given the potential impacts to human health, it is important to address PFAS by investing in modern infrastructure and relying on trained, expert water quality professionals,” said Donald Morrissey, Aquarion President. “That’s why since 2019, Aquarion has undertaken a voluntary initiative to test for PFAS and develop strategies to treat PFAS contamination. There are a range of approaches to manage PFAS including installing treatment technology, identifying new water sources, or establishing an interconnection with another water system.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that more than $18 million from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be allocated to Connecticut to help address emerging contaminants, such as PFAS, in drinking water, and Aquarion will be pursuing such funding.

“It is important to note that while testing and treatment of PFAS in drinking water is critical, it is not the ultimate resolution to the problem,” said Morrissey. “The production and use of PFAS must be reduced in order to protect human health and prevent further environmental contamination. We encourage the State of Connecticut to take all necessary steps to recover from PFAS manufacturers the cost of remediation in order to reduce the potentially significant expense that Connecticut residents may face.”

Since beginning its testing program in 2019, Aquarion has shared all point of entry PFAS testing results on its website at aquarionwater.com/pfas. Aquarion also shares PFAS results in its annual Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs), available at aquarionwater.com/wqr. Sampling results from 2023 will be added to the company’s site once the updated data is available.

View by state