City water system passes with flying colors, but water chief keeps wary eye on PFAS

Clockwise top left: transmission main rehab; install of raw water pipeline; equipment preassembly; DPW installs water main at Howard Brook; inset bottom right, Water Supt. Ian Rohrbacher. (City of Rochester photos; inset Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - The City of Rochester's Water Quality Report for 2023 was just released a week ago today, and the good news is that the quality of the city's water is outstanding, Rochester Water Systems Superintendent Ian Rohrbacher said on Tuesday.
There's actually no bad news, but what can't be overstated is Rohrbacher's concern for even miniscule amounts of PFAS that show up in the city's water supply.
The family of PFAS, a man-made synthetic known as the "forever chemical," because it never breaks down, are found in municipal water systems and wells throughout New Hampshire and the nation.
They are linked to dozens of health concerns, including increased risk of cancer, male infertility, miscarriage, cognitive development in babies and children, liver damage, compromised immune systems and a host of other health issues.
The family of PFAS is a man-made compound found in cleaning products, water resistant fabrics, nonstick cookware, personal care products like shampoo and dental floss and stain-resistant coatings used on carpets and upholstery.
"Our water supply is in very good shape," Rohrbacher told The Rochester Voice. "We met all water drinking requirements for 2023. The challenges we still face are similar to the whole industry."
The treatment of Rochester's water supply starts from when it enters the water treatment plant at 64 Strafford Road and goes all the way to city residents' water taps.
"When looking at the treatment and delivery of city water it's important that we look to reduce PFAS as much as possible," Rohrbacher said.
It's also important to note that the City of Rochester's water system continues to age and significant investment in equipment in construction will be necessary in the future.
"Our system is a century and half in age, and some original pipelines are still in place," Rohrbacher added.
When it comes to PFAS, the DEA enforceable guidelines are 4 parts per trillion, a miniscule percentage, but what troubles the city's water chief is that much more study is needed just to identify where they're coming from.
"We don't really know," he said. "Is it from our own materials we use in delivery? Does it get in from ground water, surface water? We test on a daily, monthly and quarterly basis. We know the surface water plant is fine. The ground water plant is a little higher, but well below the federal guidelines. And we're looking to mitigate that, too."
In fact, Rochester's Water Treatment Facility makes thousands of calculations devoted to ensuring the purity of the city's water supply every few minutes.
"We don't just test for listed contaminants," he said. "We've been testing for anticipated materials that might be looked at in the future., too."

To read the report click here