The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) created these resources to support members of the media reporting on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including the new maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFAS in drinking water announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). All resources are available for download and use.
An MCL is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.
Department of Health's Role with PFAS
DOH provides public health advice and technical assistance to local governments, water systems, and communities impacted by PFAS. Additionally, DOH’s Office of Drinking Water (ODW) acts as the regulatory body for Group A Water Systems and requires water systems to sample and provide public notification when needed. Group A water systems have 15 or more service connections or serve 25 or more people 60 or more days per year.
Our scientists in ODW and in the Office of Environmental Public Health Sciences develop health advice and support state policy efforts and other state agencies to reduce exposure and harm from PFAS. Our health educators work alongside our scientists to teach people across Washington about PFAS, and the best ways to protect their health when PFAS are in their drinking water, products, or fish.
Interviews with the Experts
Click on the dropdown banner below to find Question and Answers with our PFAS experts that include critical information about the EPA’s new maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFAS in drinking water, DOH’s role with PFAS in drinking water, and what to do if PFAS is found at unsafe levels in your water.
- Organized by Individual Question and Answer
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- Organized by Topic
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Note: Question and answers are the same as individual clips above, organized into topics to view at together.
Health Education Resources
Visit our DOH PFAS web page for detailed information about PFAS in drinking water, public health advice, what our state is doing to address PFAS contamination and other resources.
- PFAS Basic Videos
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What Are PFAS?Why are PFAS a Health Concern?Lowering Exposure From Drinking WaterHow to Select a POU Water Filter or Bottled Water
- Fact Sheets
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- PFAS Timeline (PDF) | Spanish
- PFAS in Drinking Water: Safety Questions about Gardening, Livestock, and Pets (PDF) | Spanish
- Accredited Labs that Test Public Drinking Water Samples for PFAS (PDF) | Spanish | Marshallese | Russian | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
- Home Water Treatment for PFAS 331-699 (PDF) | Spanish | Russian | Tagalog | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
- PFAS Point-of-Use Filter Options 331-713 (PDF) | Spanish | Marshallese | Russian | Ukrainian | Vietnamese
- Survey of Insurance Coverage for PFAS Clinical Care (PDF)
Additional Resources
Connect With Us
The Department of Health is available on these social media platforms for you to get public health news how and where you want it.
