Frequently Asked Questions

PFOA ("Perfluorooctanoic acid") and PFOS ("Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid") are two types of a class of man-made chemicals collectively known as PFAS ("per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances") that have been used to make carpets, clothing, fabric for furniture, paper packaging for food, and other materials (such as non-stick cookware) that are resistant to water, grease or stains. They are also used for firefighting at airfields and in a number of industrial processes.

Since completion of new treatment systems in March 2024, no PFAS are detectable in Hawthorne Water.

PFOA and PFOS do not occur naturally. Through one means or another, they have penetrated into the deep underground aquifer from which Hawthorne draws its water, most likely from industrial discharges

The presence of PFAS in the source water for Hawthorne's water system, now removed by the new treatment system, was not due to any action on the part of Hawthorne. These man-made chemicals are ubiquitous in the environment due to their widespread use for many products, and have penetrated drinking water sources throughout New Jersey and the rest of the country.

The DEP "maximum contaminant level" for PFOA is 14 nanograms per liter (= parts per trillion)

The DEP "maximum contaminant level" for PFOS is 13 nanograms per liter (= parts per trillion)

New regulations announced in 2024 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to become effective in 2029 set lower limits on these and other PFAS chemicals. Hawthorne water is now in compliance with these proposed stricter standards.

Test results also show "non-detect" for three dozen other PFAS chemicals not currently addressed by any regulations.

The mandated treatment is not cheap, and most of the cost will be passed onto customers in the form of a series of higher water rates. The cost being passed on to customers has been minimized by using low-interest financing from the New Jersey

Infrastructure Bank, including partial principal forgiveness from that program, and funds being received in settlement of lawsuits brought by the Borough against PFAS manufacturers.

According to the DEP, some people who drink water containing PFOA or PFOS in excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with their blood serum cholesterol levels, liver, kidney, immune system, or, in males, reproductive system. Drinking water containing PFOA in excess of the MCL over many years may also increase the risk of testicular and kidney cancer. For females, drinking water containing PFOA or PFOS in excess of the MCL over many years may cause developmental delays in a fetus and/or an infant.

More information on PFAS in drinking water can be found in the New Jersey Department of Health's drinking water facts (PDF) on the subject.

If you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.