Release of Perflourochemicals (PFCs) from the Dalton Utilities Loopers Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant (Dalton Utilities) in Dalton, Georgia

EPA received information from Dalton Utilities Loopers Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant in Dalton, Georgia that PFCs have been detected in soil, wastewater effluent, groundwater, sewage sludge (biosolids), and compost at its Loopers Bend wastewater treatment facility, and in the adjacent Conasauga River.

The Loopers Bend biosolids have been composted and sold to businesses and individuals in the Dalton area since 2003. According to Dalton Utilities, approximately 80 million pounds have been sold and distributed. After receiving data indicating the presence of PFCs in the compost, Dalton Utilities temporarily ceased its distribution of the compost between July 2009 and May 2010.

After voluntarily ceasing distribution of the compost in July 2009 and prior to resuming distribution in May 2010, Dalton Utilities completed an extensive survey and PFC sampling of private drinking water wells, compost, soil, industrial sources discharging to the Loopers Bend wastewater treatment plant, and surface water. EPA is aware that Dalton Utilities resumed distribution of finished compost (PDF, 10pp, 628K) from its Loopers Bend wastewater treatment facility in May 2010. PFCs are not regulated under EPA's biosolids program [Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 405/40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 503] and the distribution of this compost by Dalton Utilities is allowed under the EPA biosolids program.

Dalton Utilities has informed EPA that it intends to regularly sample its compost and will only distribute compost that is ten times below EPA's residential soil screening guidance values for two of the PFCs: perflourooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perflourooctyl sulfonate (PFOS). In addition, Dalton Utilities has informed EPA that it is requiring recipients of the compost to sign an agreement to use the product for landscaping only, and not for home gardens or farms. Individuals who are concerned about exposure to PFCs may want to avoid using compost from Dalton Utilities.

EPA has coordinated with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) concerning the distribution of the compost and potential PFC contamination associated with the Loopers Bend wastewater treatment facility.

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Sampling Activities

In January 2009, EPA established drinking water provisional health advisories (PDF, 5pp, 220K) (PHA) for two of the PFCs: PFOA and PFOS. The provisional health advisory levels are 0.4 parts per billion (ppb) [micrograms per liter (ug/L)] for PFOA and 0.2 ppb for PFOS. EPA released (in November 2009) residential soil screening guidance values (PDF, 11pp, 464K) for PFOA and PFOS that are protective of children who might incidentally ingest soils during play. These soil screening values are based on recently developed toxicity values for PFOA and PFOS (PDF, 9pp, 2.35M). The resulting soil screening values are 16,000 ppb [micrograms per kilogram (ug/kg] for PFOA and 6,000 ppb for PFOS. EPA has not established guidance levels for PFCs, including PFOA and PFOS, in wastewater effluent, sewage sludge, compost or surface water as it has for drinking water and soils.

In late March 2009, EPA collected and analyzed drinking water samples from the public water systems (PDF, 11pp, 1.20M) of Rome, Dalton, Calhoun and Shannon, Georgia due to their proximity to the Dalton Utilities wastewater treatment plant. The final analytical report (PDF, 11pp, 757K) indicated concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in the samples collected from the four drinking water systems were significantly below the EPA's provisional health advisory values. In January 2010, EPA collected additional drinking water samples from the public water systems of Dalton and Rome, Georgia. The final analytical report (PDF, 5pp, 163K) indicated concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in the samples collected from the two drinking water systems were below the EPA's provisional health advisory values.

In May 2009, EPA asked Dalton Utilities to investigate the potential for PFC contamination in its Loopers Bend wastewater land application sprayfield and the compost generated by the facility. In response, in June 2009, Dalton Utilities collected and analyzed samples from its sprayfield site including soil, groundwater monitoring wells, and wastewater effluent. It also sampled sewage sludge and compost produced in the wastewater treatment process, and surface water samples from the Conasauga River and a tributary, Holly Creek.

On July 20, 2009, Dalton Utilities submitted its report to EPA (PDF, 19pp, 581K) with detailed analyses, methods and results for the water and solids samples collected in response to EPA’s May 20, 2009 information request under Section 308 (PDF, 7pp, 257K) of the Clean Water Act. EPA met with Dalton Utilities on July 27, 2009 (PDF, 33pp, 6.62.M) to discuss the results of the sampling study. As a result of this meeting, Dalton Utilities submitted a subsequent report (PDF, 19pp, 330K) to EPA, dated August 5, 2009, with further characterization of the PFCs in its compost. The analytical results from these two reports indicate:

The compost has PFOA values ranging from 1900 to 4500 ppb and PFOS values ranging from 210 to 2500 ppb.
The one sample of fresh sewage sludge has a concentration of PFOA of 91 ppb and PFOS of 210 ppb.
The wastewater application sprayfield monitoring wells have PFOA values ranging from no-detectable level up to 4.4 ppb and PFOS values ranging from no detectable level up to 5.2 ppb. These wells are not sources of residential drinking water.
The soil from the wastewater application sprayfield has PFOA values ranging from 5.3 ppb up to 37 ppb and PFOS values from 37.7 ppb up to 288 ppb.
The effluent from the sprayheads have PFOA values ranging from 0.5 ppb up to 0.8 ppb and PFOS values from no detectable levels up to 0.4 ppb.
The surface water samples taken in the Conasauga River and Holly Creek had PFOA values ranging from no detectable level up to 0.4 ppb and PFOS values ranging from no detectable level up to 0.7 ppb.

From July through September 2009, Dalton Utilities also conducted a survey to identify sample PFCs in private drinking water wells (PDF, 53pp, 161M) in the immediate vicinity of the land application system in order to sample the wells for PFCs. Of the 110 private drinking water wells sampled in a one-mile radius around the Loopers Bend facility, 100 wells were below the laboratory's reporting limit for PFCs, seven private wells had detectable level below the provisional health advisories for PFOA and PFOS, two private wells had detectable levels of PFCs other than PFOA and PFOS, and, one private well was determined to have concentrations of PFOS slightly above EPA's drinking water provisional health advisory level. Dalton Utilities voluntarily provided this residence with bottled water and connected it to the public water system. Dalton Utilities also continued quarterly sampling of those wells with initial water sample results of their respective private drinking water well sample results.

On October 6, 2009, EPA sent a second Section 308 information request to Dalton Utilities (PDF, 11pp, 501K) for the monitoring of the private drinking water wells, characterization of the wastewater, sewage sludge, compost, compost use wastewater application sprayfield, and the Conasauga River and Holly Creek. From October 2009 through August 2010, Dalton Utilities submitted PFC analytical results as requested. In addition, in December 2009, Dalton Utilities voluntarily submitted wildlife data of PFC concentrations in deer and wild turkey serum, muscle, and liver. Dalton Utilities also voluntarily completed the Dalton Utilities industrial users PFC wastewater sampling project. The summary of the analytical results from these reports (PDF, 53pp, 161M) indicated:

The compost had PFOA values ranging from 590 to 2600 ppb and PFOS values ranging from 89 to 1200 ppb.
The fresh sewage sludge PFOA and PFOS concentrations remained consistent with the July/August 2009 sampling event. Sample collected in April 2010, the most recent sampling, indicated concentrations of PFOA of 97.2 ppb and PFOS of 219 ppb.
The wastewater application sprayfield monitoring wells have PFOA values ranging from no-detectable level up to 6.5 ppb and PFOS values ranging from no detectable level up to 14 ppb. Again, these wells are not sources of residential drinking water.
The surface water samples downstream of Loopers Bend sprayfield site taken in the Conasauga River and Holly Creek had PFOA values ranging from 0.14 to 0.358 ppb and PFOS values ranging from 0.33 to 0.665 ppb. Surface water samples at the confluence of the Conasauga River and Holly Creek had PFOA values ranging from no detectable level to 0.31 ppb and PFOS values ranging from no detectable level to 1.2 ppb.
The muscle tissue sampled from a 0.5-year old female deer and a 3.5-year old male deer taken from the Loopers Bend wastewater sprayfield site had no detectable levels of PFOA, and PFOS values ranging from 12.65 to 90.3 ppb. The serum from these deer had no detectable levels of PFOA, and PFOS values ranging from 113 to 1130 ppb. The liver samples from these deer had no detectable levels of PFOA, and PFOS values ranging from 589 to 2675 ppb.
The muscle tissue sampled from a 1-year old male wild turkey and 4-year old male wild turkey taken from the Loopers Bend wastewater sprayfield site had no detectable levels of PFOA, and PFOS values ranging from 86.1 to 184.5 ppb. The serum from these turkeys had PFOA values ranging from 18.5 to 33.3 ppb, and PFOS values ranging from 2090 to 2695 ppb. The liver samples from these turkeys had PFOA values ranging from no detectable level to 12.55 ppb and PFOS values ranging from 1570 to 2055 ppb.

Dalton Utilities also submitted analytical results of soil and five nearby drinking water wells of private property owners that received the compost. These locations were chosen based on the amount of compost used and the application of this compost to areas in close proximity to private drinking water wells. The analytical report indicate the following:

The soil had PFOA values ranging from no detectable levels to 780 ppb and PFOS values ranging from no detectable level to 470 ppb.
The five private drinking water wells had not detectable levels of PFOA or PFOS.

Sampling Results

Background Information

Letter from Dalton Utilities [Alston & Bird, LLP] to EPA Region 4 providing information request summary pursuant to Section 308 of the Clean Water Act and notification that Dalton Utilities intention to resume distribution of the finished compost on May 10, 2010 [May 3, 2010] (PDF, 10pp, 628K)
EPA Provisional Health Advisories for Perflurooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) [January 8, 2009] (PDF, 5pp, 220K)
EPA Region 4 Memorandum: Soil Screening Levels for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctyl Sulfonate (PFOS) [November 20, 2009] (PDF, 11pp, 464K)
EPA Memorandum: The Toxicity of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) [October 28, 2009] (PDF, 9pp, 2.35M)
EPA Clean Water Act Section 308 Information Request to Don Cope, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dalton Utilities, Dalton, Georgia [May 20, 2009] (PDF, 7pp, 257K)
Presentation Given by Dalton Utilities to EPA Region 4 and GA EPD [July 27, 2009] (PDF, 33pp, 6.62M)
EPA Clean Water Act Section 308 Information Request to Don Cope, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dalton Utilities, Dalton Georgia [October 6, 2009] (PDF, 11pp, 497K)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Fact Sheet - Perfluorochemical (PFC) Contamination of Compost from Dalton Utilities, Dalton, Georgia [August 2010] (PDF, 4pp, 563K)
Q&As - Perfluorochemical (PFC) Contamination in Dalton, GA; Prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [August 30, 2010] (PDF, 20pp, 909K)
GA EPD - Dalton Utilities Riverbend Land Application System (LAS) Permit No. GA02056 [March 26, 2007] (PDF, 31pp, 1.18M)
Information on PFOA and other PFCs is available at the EPA web site: https://www.epa.gov/oppt/pfoa/index.html
Information on the EPA’s biosolids regulations and other associated publications: https://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/biosolids/index.htm#guidance

For information about the contents of this page please contact Lee Thomas (thomas.lee@epa.gov)

Release of Perflourochemicals (PFCs) from the Dalton Utilities Loopers Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant (Dalton Utilities) in Dalton, Georgia

Sampling Activities

Sampling Results

Background Information

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