Emerging Compound Periodic Testing Effort by Fairfax Water
2008/2009 updated 11/12/09
There are tens of thousands of compounds emerging that are considered suspected Endocrine Disrupting Compounds or Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products. Fairfax Water carefully considered the most prudent use of its resources in researching a suitable list of compounds to test in both source and treated waters.  We looked at influences in the Potomac and Occoquan River Watersheds (industrial, agricultural uses, etc.) to determine which compounds are most likely to be present. We then looked at our treatment process to determine which compounds would not be readily removed through treatment.  Finally, we looked at which compounds could be measured in water. The list of compounds in the tables below were tested in the source and treated waters.  Samples were sent to an independent laboratory proficient in this type of analysis. 
Table 1
 Source Waters (Water from the Potomac River or Occoquan Reservoir prior to any chemical or physical treatment application)
Compounds Common Use of Compound
Lowest level of instrument detection(1)
Occoquan Reservoir Data  Potomac River Data # of 8 oz glasses of Treated drinking water* per day ingested before exceeding Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) Levels**
June-08 (2) September-08 December-08 March-09 (3) June-09 (3) September-09 (3) June-08 (2) September-08 December-08 March-09 (3) June-09 (3) September-09 (3)
Atrazine  Commonly used herbicide for maize crops 0.1 ppb 0.9 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect 0.7 ppb 0.2 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect 0.2 ppb 0.2 ppb 25 glasses at a 1.0 ppb concentration (4)
Carbamazepine  Anti-epileptic drug 0.001 ppb 0.003 ppb 0.002 ppb 0.011 ppb 0.012 ppb 0.002 ppb 0.009 ppb 0.006 ppb 0.007 ppb 0.004 ppb 0.007 ppb 0.003 ppb 0.003 ppb 5600 glasses at a 0.018 ppb concentration (4)
Estrone Natural human hormone 0.5 ppt Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect 0.9 ppt 0.7 ppt Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect 4300 glasses at a 0.9 ppt concentration (4) 
Caffeine Stimulant 0.05 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect 0.06 ppb 0.07 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect 740,000 glasses at a 1.0 ppb concentration (4)
Progesterone Natural human hormone 0.1 ppt NA NA 0.1 ppt 0.1 ppt Non-Detect Non-Detect NA NA 0.1 ppt 0.2 ppt 0.1 ppt 0.1 ppt 1,500 glasses at a 199.0 ppt concentration (4)
Sulfamethoxazole Antibacterial antibiotic 0.002 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect 0.004 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect 51,000,000 glasses at a 0.003 ppb concentration (4)
17b-estradiol Natural human hormone 0.5 ppt Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Bisphenol A Intermediate in manufacture of plastics and resins 0.010 ppb Non-Detect  Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Butylbenzyl phthalate Plasticizer 1.0 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect *Note that in Table 2 there are no detected 
DEHP [di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate] Plasticizer 0.6 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  compounds in the Treated Drinking Water
Dibutyl phthalate Plasticizer 2.0 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Ethynyl estradiol Synthetic estrogenic pharmaceutical 0.5 ppt Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Ibuprofen Anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical 0.05 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect * *Acceptable Daily Intake or ADI is a measure of the 
Lindane (BHC-gamma) Insecticide 0.02 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect amount of a specific substance in food or drinking water that 
Linuron Herbicide 0.5 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect can be ingested orally over a lifetime without an appreciable
Methoxychlor Pesticide 0.1 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect health risk.
Monensin Antibiotic 0.0001 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Naproxen Anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical 0.002 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Nonylphenol Used as an intermediate in manufacture of chemicals 0.5 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Octylphenol Used as an intermediate in manufacture of chemicals 0.5 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
                               
                               
Table 2  
Treated Waters (Water which has been physically and chemically treated to drinking water quality)    No Detected Compounds  
Compounds Common Use of Compound
Lowest level of instrument detection(1)
Griffith Treatment Plant Data  Corbalis Treatment Plant Data  
June-08 (2) September-08 December-08 March-09 (3) June-09 (3) September-09 (3) June-08 (2) September-08 December-08 March-09 (3) June-09 (3) September-09 (3)  
Atrazine (5)  Commonly used herbicide for maize crops 0.1 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Carbamazepine  Anti-epileptic drug 0.001 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Estrone Natural human hormone 0.5 ppt Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Caffeine Stimulant 0.05 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Progesterone Natural human hormone 0.1 ppt NA NA Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect NA NA Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Sulfamethoxazole Antibacterial antibiotic 0.002 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
17b-estradiol Natural human hormone 0.5 ppt Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Bisphenol A Intermediate in manufacture of plastics and resins 0.010 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Butylbenzyl phthalate Plasticizer 1.0 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
DEHP [di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate] Plasticizer 0.6 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Dibutyl phthalate Plasticizer 2.0 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Ethynyl estradiol Synthetic estrogenic pharmaceutical 0.5 ppt Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Ibuprofen Anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical 0.05 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Lindane (BHC-gamma) Insecticide 0.02 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Linuron Herbicide 0.5 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Methoxychlor Pesticide 0.1 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Monensin Antibiotic 0.0001 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Naproxen Anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical 0.002 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Nonylphenol Used as an intermediate in manufacture of chemicals 0.5 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
Octylphenol Used as an intermediate in manufacture of chemicals 0.5 ppb Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect Non-Detect  
                               
Key to terms: NA = not analyzed during this collection ppb = part per billion ppt = part per trillion                    
                               
(1) Lowest Level of Instrument Detection is the concentration at which the compound cannot be enumerated lower than, and thus the result termed a Non-Detect.  
(2)  The Instrument Lower Level of Detection for this specific date for Bisphenol A was 0.1 ppb. 
(3)  The Instrument Lower Level of Detection for this specific date for Monensin was 0.001                            
(4) Source of information obtained from a review of ADI's and correlated data by Intertox, Inc. April 2009; and the Water Research Foundation 2008 Publication 91238, Toxicological Relevance of EDC's and Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water 
(5)Atrazine has been detected periodically within regulatory data sets at extremely low levels below the Instrument Detection Level in the above tables.  These data sets can be viewed in the Annual Report on Water Quality at the link  http://www.fairfaxwater.org/water/water.htm   
 Additional information about water quality can be viewed at http://www.fairfaxwater.org/water/index.htm .                           
List of Emerging Compounds Studied in Current Testing Effort                        
Table 3                        
Compound  Common Description EPA Regulated for Drinking Water Standards EPA Maximum Contaminant Level                        
17b-estradiol Natural human hormone No                          
Atrazine Herbicide Yes 3 ppb                        
Bisphenol A Used as an intermediate in manufacture of plastics and resins No                          
Butylbenzyl phthalate Plasticizer No                          
Caffeine Stimulant No                          
Carbamazepine Anti-epileptic pharmaceutical No                          
DEHP [di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate] Plasticizer No                          
Dibutyl phthalate Plasticizer No                          
Estrone Natural human hormone No                          
Ethynyl estradiol Synthetic estrogenic pharmaceutical No                          
Ibuprofen Anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical No                          
Lindane (BHC-gamma) Insecticide Yes 0.2 ppb                        
Linuron Herbicide No                          
Methoxychlor Pesticide Yes 40 ppb                        
Monensin Antibiotic No                          
Naproxen Anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical No                          
Nonylphenol Used as an intermediate in manufacture of chemicals No                          
Octylphenol Used as an intermediate in manufacture of chemicals No                          
Progesterone* Natural human hormone No                           
Sulfamethoxazole Antibacterial antibiotic No                          
*added to list in Dec 08