Read the full article by Jim Hinch (Voice of San Diego)
“The Sweetwater Authority, which supplies drinking water to more than 200,000 households in southern San Diego County, alerted city officials in its service area on Friday that it had discovered toxic industrial chemicals in its main reservoir at levels that exceed state and federal standards.
The PFAS chemicals, also known as ‘forever’ chemicals because of their longevity in the environment, were discovered during newly mandated testing in late October. The chemicals, known by the technical names PFHxS and PFOA, have been shown to interfere with thyroid function and cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Sweetwater General Manager Carlos Quintero said in an interview on Monday that water from the reservoir, which supplies households in Bonita and parts of Chula Vista, ‘is safe to drink based on current limits.’ However, he acknowledged that one of the chemicals, PFOA, was found at nearly twice the limit recently established by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. That limit is set to take effect in 2029, giving water agencies time to install additional treatment facilities if needed.”…