Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) including Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 

PFAS are a group of chemicals used to make a wide range of non-stick, stain-resistant, and waterproof coatings. PFAS have been manufactured since the 1940s and can be found in textiles, food packaging, cookware, cleaning products, and firefighting foams. The concern with certain PFAS chemicals is that they generally do not biodegrade and therefore are inclined to build up in the environment and in people and animals. This has earned them the nickname “forever chemicals”. The manufacture and use of products with PFAS puts PFAS in the environment where, over time, they can end up in drinking water supplies. 

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has found evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects such as cancer, liver effects, immunological effects, decreased birth weights, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, and cardiovascular disease. Due to these concerns, health advisories and regulatory limits for various PFAS chemicals in drinking water are being developed at both the state and federal level. These limits are updated continuously as more is learned about the prevalence and health effects of various PFAS chemicals. Please see this link for the most current information.

Highland Park’s drinking water has been tested by the City and by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) multiple times since 2013 for a variety of PFAS chemicals. More information regarding specific testing dates and results can be found here. Lake Michigan, which is the source of Highland Park's drinking water, has been found to contain trace amounts of PFAS chemicals, and in July 2023 two PFAS chemicals were detected for the first time in Highland Park's drinking water. Although the concentrations of these chemicals are below the USEPA's Maximum Contaminant Level, the City is researching treatment options that will ensure Highland Park continues to produce safe, high quality water that meets or exceeds all USEPA and State drinking water health standards.

Highland Park will continue monitoring the City's drinking water for PFAS. In May 2024, Highland Park will begin quarterly testing over a 12 month period for 29 PFAS chemicals as part of the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) These results will be published on our website as soon as they become available.