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10 <br /> The EPA established a lifetime Health Advisory Level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for the <br /> combined amount of two categories of PFAS in drinking water. A ppt is comparable to a grain of <br /> sand in an Olympic swimming pool. OWASA's treated drinking water remains well below the <br /> health advisory level. <br /> In addition, we have begun to voluntarily test our wastewater for PFAS. As products containing <br /> PFAS are washed or degrade, PFAS can enter wastewater systems and travel into lakes and <br /> rivers. Wastewater systems are not sources of PFAS but are passive receivers. <br /> The results of OWASA's wastewater testing consistently showed combined concentrations of <br /> the two monitored categories of PFAS were also below the 70 ppt threshold. <br /> While PFAS research is emerging and complex, OWASA is committed to sharing available <br /> information about PFAS with customers in a manner that is accessible and understandable. <br /> OWASA includes PFAS monitoring updates to local stakeholders, documents on our website, <br /> OWASA Quarterly Report January 16, 2020 and through communications directly with <br /> customers — including the annual Water Quality Report Card and recent educational initiatives <br /> at the Chapel Hill Public Library. <br /> Care to Share Day: <br /> OWASA and the Interfaith Council for Social Services celebrated the inaugural Care to Share <br /> Day on November 21, 2019. Leading up to the event day, OWASA hosted a series of in-person <br /> and social media-focused events. WCHL donated 23 public service announcements; OWASA <br /> and IFC staff came together to celebrate and raise funds; there was significant social media <br /> activity generating interest and awareness for the program. <br /> The program plays an important role in our community, and we hope this awareness effort leads <br /> to an increase in donors to the program. <br /> Thank you to the governing boards for proclaiming Care to Share Day at meetings leading up to <br /> the celebration. We value your historic and ongoing partnership and support of Care to Share. <br /> Youth Water Academy: <br /> Another group of water-conscious local teens is ready to take their newly acquired water <br /> knowledge to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community after completing OWASA's Youth Water <br /> Academy. <br /> This fall's program culminated in early December for the 18 participants from local high schools <br /> after five weeks of learning the ins and outs of the process of bringing high-quality water from <br /> the source to taps across the community. <br /> The academy included tours of OWASA's Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants, learning <br /> more about water governance in our community, and what it takes from an infrastructure <br /> standpoint to keep things flowing smoothly. The students were then able to put that knowledge <br /> to work by constructing their own water treatment system during a hands-on build in OWASA's <br /> operations center. <br /> The program is open to students in grades 9-12 in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Keep an eye out <br /> for the next round of applications for the next Youth Water Academy in 2020. <br /> Infrastructure Investments: <br />