Almost two years ago, New Jersey's Drinking Water Quality Institute panel recommended that the state formally adopt a limit for perfluorononanoic acid – PFNA —in some Gloucester county drinking water supplies. Exposure can cause an elevated risk of cancer.

A limit has not been set yet, because state Department of Environmental Protection continues to work through a mandated multi-step process of testing and review.

Larry Hajna, a spokesman for the DEP, said the agency is very proactive in dealing with potentially hazardous chemicals in water supplies around the state.

He said many people may think bottled water is better for you than the stuff coming out of the tap, “but the fact of the matter is the water you get out of your tap is tested much more rigorously than the water that you would purchase at your grocery store.”

“Every effort is made to ensure that the water that comes out of your tap is as safe as possible to drink," he said.

He noted another carcinogen, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical known for its water repellency properties, is being found in very low levels in different parts of New Jersey and across the nation.

“More than a decade ago New Jersey was the first state in the nation to adopt what’s known as a guidance level for drinking water for PFOA — 40 parts per trillion," Hajna said.

He said while water suppliers have been following the PFOA guidance, and taken proactive steps to mitigate the contaminant, the state has been working through the process of establishing a formal maximum contaminant level for PFOA, which will be even more stringent.

“We’re trying to be very proactive and conservative in setting a level that is protective of public health,” he said.

But Jeff Tittel, the director of the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club, said the DEP needs to do more to ensure drinking water supplies are truly safe.

“I can’t tell you if it’s safe enough to drink because we’re not always sure what’s in it. We only test for around a hundred chemicals out of the thousands of chemicals that are out there,” Tittel said.

Eight years ago, there were 15 chemicals that were nominated for new standards by the Drinking Water Quality Institute, but the standards were never adopted, he said.

“It’s troubling because we know many of these chemicals have impacts on public health,” he said.

He said more aggressive action needs to be taken.

“In many cases the fix is not that expensive. It’s putting in carbon filtration systems,” he said.

Tittel added when people are drinking cleaner, safer water, there is a long term medical savings, because they won’t have to be treated down the line for various ailments and sicknesses.

Hajna stressed the state has been very proactive in testing, monitoring and setting rigid standards.

“People should have confidence it’s all done with the mind of making sure that our water supply is safe,” he said.

You can contact reporter David Matthau at David.Matthau@townsquaremedia.com.

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