PFAS & Drinking Water

The city provides water service through a groundwater aquifer to City of Loveland residents, as well as limited parts of Symmes Township and Miami Township. Source water comes from three ground wells. 

In April 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the first-ever national standards (known as the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation Maximum Contaminant Levels) for regulating Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water. 

The City of Loveland is developing a treatment plan to address PFAS. Currently, our water satisfies all current state and federal Environmental Protection Agency standards.

For more information on PFAS and its potential effects please reference the US EPA website at PFAS Explained | US EPA.

The City of Loveland continues to move forward with design of a treatment process to remove PFAS, with assistance from our consultant AECOM, and meet all future USEPA standards within the timeline adopted by the USEPA.

In the meantime, the EPA states a home filter may be an effective way to reduce PFAS levels.  There are a variety of types of filters available at many different price points.  Please consult the EPA's fact sheet.

Water Tower

PFAS News

City of Loveland Awarded $1.3M for PFAS Treatment Design

The City of Loveland has been awarded $1.3 million in principal forgiveness funding from the Ohio EPA to design a treatment solution for Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the city’s water system. PFAS are manufactured chemicals found in many consumer products, and while Loveland’s water currently meets all state and federal safety standards, the City is proactively preparing for new national regulations from the U.S. EPA that will require stricter limits.

Following an engineering study completed in 2024 and approval of the City’s General Plan earlier this year, this new funding will support the design phase for potential treatment system modifications. “Loveland is working toward meeting the new standards, and this funding helps move us closer to compliance by the deadline," said Mayor Kathy Bailey. The City is committed to protecting public health and will continue seeking funding opportunities for future construction of the treatment improvements. To read the complete press release, click here.



Frequently Asked Questions


What is PFAS?

PFAS is a category of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. PFAS are found in numerous consumer products like nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, cleaning products, shampoo, and makeup to name a few examples. During the manufacturing discharge process of some of these items, PFAS can enter water resources. 

PFAS levels are measured on a part per trillion (ppt) ratio, which is equivalent to one gallon of water per trillion gallons. 

Is PFAS in the City of Loveland’s water? 

As of the most recent EPA testing (July 27, 2023), three wells were measuring over the EPA’s new Maximum Contaminant Level for PFOS, a type of PFAS chemical. City water testing results are shared annually through the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). 

What is the city doing to treat PFAS in drinking water?

The city hired an engineering firm to evaluate the city’s water treatment facility and make recommendations for how the facility may need to be modified to treat PFAS levels to meet future regulations. With the recommendations, the city is working with a design firm on plans.

Can I install a water filter in my home?

The EPA states a home filter may be an effective way to reduce PFAS levels. There are a variety of types of filters available at many different price points. Please consult the EPA's fact sheet.

PFAS Timeline


  • In 2019, Governor DeWine ordered Ohio EPA and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to analyze the prevalence of PFAS in Ohio's drinking water. In response, Ohio EPA and ODH created Ohio’s PFAS Action Plan 1.0, which prioritized the testing of water in Ohio’s nearly 1,500 public water systems. 
  • To help Ohio’s public water systems evaluate their PFAS testing results, Ohio developed Action Levels for six PFAS compounds. When the Ohio PFAS Action Plan 1.0 was developed, there were no national drinking water standards for PFAS. Ohio used U.S. EPA’s Health Advisory Level for PFOA and PFOS and developed Action Levels for four additional compounds (PFNA, GenX, PFBS, PFHxS). These six PFAS compounds were evaluated during the statewide sampling of public water systems.
  • In June 2022, US EPA begins rulemaking process to implement new drinking water standards with the idea that limits would be much lower
  • City of Loveland engages Burgess & Niple in a study for treatment.
  • Ohio EPA announces $87M is available over five years of grant funding for PFAS. Approximately $17M per year, from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL).
  • In 2023, City of Loveland joins class action lawsuits against 3M, Dupont, BASF, and Tyco for discharging PFAS to groundwater.
  • On April 10, 2024, US EPA finalized the National Drinking Water Rule:
    • Within 3 years of rule establishment (2024-2027), initial monitoring must be complete.
    • Starting 3 years following rule establishment (2027-2029), results of initial monitoring must be in Consumer Confidence Reports (i.e. Annual Water Quality Reports).
      • Regular monitoring for compliance must begin, and results of compliance monitoring must be included in Consumer Confidence Reports.
      • Public notification for monitoring and testing violations must begin.
    • Starting 5 years following rule establishment (Beginning in 2029):o Comply with all Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL).
      o Public notification for MCL violations must begin.

Resources


Website Sampling Chart -9-25

City Council Updates


To help keep City of Loveland water customers informed, Assistant City Manager Chris Wojnicz will provide an update about the city's PFAS treatment plan at City Council meetings. These updates will be given approximately every two months.