Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS, are a class of persistent synthetic chemicals used worldwide in many consumer products, including shampoo, paints, fast food packaging, firefighting foam and non-stick cookware, among others. Manufactured beginning in the 1940s, PFAS include a group of more than 4,700 chemicals that are used in a variety of applications. EPA has reported that exposure to PFAS could lead to adverse health effects.

Addressing PFAS has been an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DEQ. Since 2021, DEQ has been monitoring PFAS in streams, rivers, and reservoirs across the Commonwealth to understand the prevalence of these substances and to identify potential locations where PFAS concentrations are elevated relative to baseline concentrations. DEQ maintains a dashboard that presents the results of these PFAS samples. This dashboard is included below.

DEQ’s PFAS dashboard has been updated as of Dec. 22, 2025. DEQ recently identified a potential data inconsistency with the fish tissue data previously presented in the dashboard. DEQ notified the Virginia Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS), which analyzes DEQ’s fish tissue samples. DCLS conducted a thorough review and has revised the fish tissue data. The revised data are now presented in the PFAS dashboard. This has no impact on water sample data, which remains unchanged. The Virginia Department of Health will use the updated fish tissue data to evaluate existing fish consumption advisories and will coordinate with DEQ on any necessary updates or adjustments. Questions can be sent to communications@deq.virginia.gov.

View the PFAS dashboard in full screen.

PFAS Dashboard

Statewide PFAS Sampling

PFAS sampling has been conducted through several DEQ water quality monitoring programs:

2023 PFAS Monitoring Network: Samples collected at existing DEQ stations during 2023 using funds allocated by the Virginia General Assembly.
Freshwater and Estuarine Probabilistic Monitoring: Probabilistic Monitoring sites are randomly selected and provide background information on PFAS concentrations in streams, rivers, and estuaries in the Commonwealth.
Targeted: Surface water sites that were selected for sampling based on input from the DEQ Land Protection and Water programs as well as the Virginia Department of Health.
USGS Bay Nontidal Network: Surface water sites that are used by US Geological Survey to assess concentrations, loads, and trends of nutrients and sediment in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Special Studies: Sampling that is initiated for special investigations, for supporting permit development, or to scientifically develop or validate new methods and techniques. Special studies on PFAS have been conducted by DEQ in the Roanoke River watershed and the Chickahominy River watershed, where the Virginia Department of Health has issued a fish tissue consumption advisory based on PFAS concentrations.
Fish Tissue Program: DEQ collects fish from popular fishing locations in each of Virginia's major river basins such that all basins are sampled every three years. Fish tissue is analyzed for PFAS and other toxic compounds to inform Virginia Department of Health consumption advisories and assessments by DEQ.

Middle Chickahominy River PFAS Investigation

In October 2021, Newport News Waterworks alerted DEQ to elevated PFAS concentrations in the Middle Chickahominy River watershed which is one of several sources of water for Newport News. Based on sampling conducted by the waterworks, they pinpointed the White Oak Swamp watershed as the possible origin of the PFAS. DEQ, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), and Henrico County immediately formed a team effort process—a Unified Command—to develop a joint response focused on identifying any potential risks to public health.

As part of the Unified Command’s joint investigation, DEQ collected surface water, fish tissue and sediment samples while Henrico County collected samples from public and private drinking water wells. The combined sampling efforts confirmed Newport News Waterwork’s findings. Learn more about the joint investigation in this interactive Story Map.

In response to the presence of PFAS detected in a several private drinking water wells, the Henrico County (County) Department of Public Utilities has offered ongoing testing and to install and maintain filtration systems at the affected homes while the County explores options for extending public water to those affected homes.

The Richmond International Airport (RIC) has been sampling and analyzing discharges from their three permitted stormwater outfalls - two outfalls which discharge to the White Oak Swamp watershed, which flows into the Chickahominy River, and a third which discharges to Gillies Creek, a tributary to the James River. This two-year sampling effort concluded in June 2025. DEQ is currently analyzing the results of RIC’s sampling efforts.

Former US Department of Defense tenants of the RIC property, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, are also investigating their possible PFAS contribution to the Middle Chickahominy watershed. Each has completed PFAS investigations on airport property they once occupied. The Air National Guard completed a limited Site Inspection in 2016 with a report issued in 2019. A follow-on Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study has been prioritized and is awaiting funding. The Army National Guard completed a limited Site Inspection in 2022 and issued a report in 2023. A follow-on Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study is scheduled to occur from late 2025 into 2026. Both former tenants measured the presence of PFAS at their former locations at RIC. The Air National Guard’s reports are available through their Administrative Record Search – Installation List: Richmond IAPT (Byrd Fd) AND search Subject Perfluorinated. The Army National Guard’s reports are available through their PFAS Library – AASF Byrd Field.

In May 2025, VDH issued a fish tissue consumption advisory for specific fish species in the Chickahominy River and White Oak Swamp. The affected species include creek chubsucker, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, and sunfish. The VDH fish consumption advisory was developed using fish tissue data collected by DEQ. The data can be accessed through the Statewide PFAS Sampling Dashboard.

DEQ continues to investigate sources of PFAS in drinking water sources. Please see DEQ’s Reducing PFAS in Drinking Water web page to learn more.

The Unified Command continues to meet quarterly to share updates on the status of activities supporting this investigation and response.

Roanoke River PFAS

In the summer of 2022, DEQ, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), and the Western Virginia Water Authority (WVWA) entered into a Unified Command structure to investigate and address the source of PFAS detected in the Roanoke River, Spring Hollow Reservoir, and the associated drinking water supply that serves portions of Roanoke, Franklin, and Botetourt Counties. The investigation led to the conclusion that an industrial customer of the Elliston wastewater treatment plant was the source of the PFAS compound, GenX, which is a trade name for one of the thousands of manmade compounds known generally as “forever chemicals”.

To investigate levels of GenX in the environment, WVWA collected and analyzed samples of water from the Roanoke River and Spring Hollow Reservoir, DEQ collected fish tissue and water samples from the Roanoke River, and VDH collected water samples from private drinking water wells.

In response to the discovery of GenX in their drinking water source, WVWA modified its treatment processes by adding additional treatment (granular activated carbon filtration). The upgraded treatment allowed WVWA to reduce GenX levels in finished drinking water to levels below the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level of 10 parts per trillion which was established in April 2024. Please see WVWA’s PFAS page to learn more about their efforts to measure and address GenX in drinking water.

The industry determined to be discharging GenX to the Elliston wastewater treatment plant took immediate action to eliminate GenX from their processes. Once the source of GenX was eliminated, levels of GenX in the Roanoke River below the town of Elliston began decreasing. Regular sampling of the Roanoke River at WVWA’s intake has shown no detection of GenX since late 2022. Levels of GenX in Spring Hollow Reservoir have also been decreasing and are currently below the EPA MCL. See WVWA’s PFAS page for their sample results. You can results of DEQ’s sampling on DEQ’s Statewide PFAS Sampling Dashboard.

Results of VDH’s private well sampling determined that the GenX discharge to the Roanoke River had no impact on drinking water wells.

EPA's PFAS Activities

The EPA has taken several key actions to address PFAS contamination and they are listed below. Additional detail on the actions the EPA has taken is available in EPA's PFAS Strategic Roadmap: Third Annual Progress Report. In an April 2025 press release the EPA reaffirmed their commitment to addressing PFAS by Strengthening the Science, Building Partnerships, Fulfilling Statutory Obligations and Enhancing Communication.

Office of Water:

Establish a national primary drinking water regulation for PFOA and PFOS [Final Rule published April 26, 2024]
Publish the final toxicity assessment for GenX and five additional PFAS [Gen X assessment published October 2021]
Publish health advisories for GenX and PFBS [Published June 2022]
Publish final recommended ambient water quality criteria for PFAS [Final Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for PFOA and PFOS published September 2024]
Publish multi-laboratory validated analytical method for 40 PFAS [EPA Method 1633 published January 2024]

Office of Land & Emergency Management:

Designate PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances [Final Rule published May 8, 2024; additionally, EPA issued a PFAS Enforcement Discretion and Settlement Policy Under CERCLA]
Issue updated guidance on destroying and disposing PFAS [Updated guidance published April 9, 2024]
Initiate rulemakings under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to address PFAS [Proposed Rules published February 2024]

Virginia's PFAS Activities

The Virginia General Assembly has taken an interest in addressing the issue of PFAS in the Commonwealth focusing in particular on understanding the extent of PFAS contamination in the Commonwealth’s waters with an emphasis on drinking water. The focus on drinking water has led to a partnership between DEQ and the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Office of Drinking Water. The Office of Drinking Water is responsible for enforcing drinking water regulations in Virginia and they are working closely with water utility providers to monitor the water that is provided to Virginia residents for PFAS. More information about VDH's activities, including an interactive map of PFAS sampling of drinking water, are available on their PFAS webpage. DEQ’s responsibility to monitor the Commonwealth’s ambient waters for PFAS and identify significant sources of PFAS in drinking water are outlined in the summaries of the four PFAS bills passed by the General Assembly to date that relate to DEQ below.

2025 General Assembly Session:

Beginning July 1, 2025, Chapter 650 of the 2025 Virginia Acts of Assembly (HB 2050) creates the Occoquan Reservoir PFAS Reduction Program to reduce excessive levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in public drinking water derived from the Occoquan Reservoir.

2024 General Assembly Session:

Beginning July 1, 2024, Chapters 316 and 343 of the 2024 Virginia Acts of Assembly (HB1085 and SB243) requires the VDH to notify DEQ of detections of PFAS in finished water from public water systems above established MCLs and subsequently for DEQ to develop a priority plan for PFAS assessments to identify sources of PFAS in public water systems' raw water sources. For additional information, please see the Reducing PFAS in Drinking Water page or access the latest Annual Report linked below.

PFAS Assessment and Source Reduction Activities 2025 Annual Report

2023 General Assembly Session:

Beginning July 1, 2023, Chapter 276 of the Virginia Acts of Assembly (HB2189) established requirements for certain industrial users discharging to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) to test for PFAS chemicals and report results to the receiving POTW.

2022 General Assembly Session:

Funds were appropriated for DEQ to conduct surface and groundwater sampling of PFAS throughout the Commonwealth. Results of these sampling efforts are available via the PFAS dashboard on this page.

General PFAS FAQ

What are PFAS?

PFAS or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are man-made, industrially produced compounds. Production of these chemicals began in the 1940s and there are now several thousand different chemicals in the PFAS family. A wide variety of products, including stain-resistant fabric coatings, non-stick coatings (Teflon), food packaging, and firefighting foam contain PFAS. PFAS are extremely stable and do not breakdown in the environment.

What are the health effects of exposure to PFAS?

It is important to keep in mind that exposure to PFAS does not always mean a person will have health effects. Whether or not a person gets sick from exposure to PFAS depends on how long a person was exposed (duration), how often they were exposed (frequency), and how much PFAS they were exposed to (dose). Personal factors like age, lifestyle, and other illnesses may also determine whether or not a person gets sick from exposure to PFAS. There are many chemicals in the PFAS family, and they may cause different health effects if you are exposed to them. The health effects of PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA have been more widely studied than other chemicals in the PFAS family. Some, but not all, studies in humans with PFAS exposure have shown that certain PFAS may:

Interfere with the body’s natural hormones;
Increase cholesterol levels;
Lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant;
Affect the immune system; or
Increase the risk of certain cancers.

Scientists are still learning about the health effects of exposures to mixtures of PFAS. For the most part, laboratory animals exposed to high doses of one or more PFAS have shown changes in liver, thyroid, and pancreatic function, as well as some changes in hormone levels. Because animals and humans process these chemicals differently, more research will help scientists fully understand how PFAS affect human health.