Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in the Fountain Creek Watershed, Colorado Springs, CO, USA: A Yearlong Investigation of PFAS Levels in Water, Soils, and Sediments
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination of water resources and impact on affected populations in the southern Colorado Springs metro area have been of research interest since initial reports were announced via local news outlets in 2016. In this study, surface water, soils, and sediments were collected monthly for a full year at eight locations within the Fountain Creek Watershed of Colorado Springs, CO, USA. Using a novel quantitative method, levels of nine PFASs were determined via liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Mean levels of ∑ 9 PFAS in water were 71.4 ng/L (median 57.9 ng/L) and ranged from 18.1 to 172.3 ng/L. Using these data, log K ow values, and % total organic carbon content, predicted levels of PFASs in soil and sediment samples were modeled. Actual concentrations via LC/MS/MS for PFASs in soils and sediments reflected previously reported metadata for solid samples affected by aqueous film-forming foam use and release. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) were detected in most (>87%) soils and all sediment samples. Predicted vs actual concentrations (ng/g dw ) of PFOS agreed extremely well for soil and sediment samples in this study, while agreement of predicted vs actual concentrations for PFOA was less robust. This latter observation motivated a follow-up study to assess whether, and to what extent, PFOA levels in affected vegetation at the survey sites.
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Few field studies have simultaneously examined PFAS across both spatial and temporal dimensions and multiple environmental compartments.
“however, few have simultaneously examined both dimensions across multiple environmental compartments.”
From Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Surface Water and Fluvial Sediments of a Rural Gulf Coast Watershed: A Year-long Spatiotemporal Assessment (2026) · cites this paper as [22]
Temporal monitoring of fluvial sediment is limited to only two studies, both in urban environments with known point sources and differing climates.
“For example, temporal monitoring of fluvial sediment is limited to only two studies that take place in urban environments with known point sources and differing climates.”
From Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Surface Water and Fluvial Sediments of a Rural Gulf Coast Watershed: A Year-long Spatiotemporal Assessment (2026) · cites this paper as [22]
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PFAS River Export Analysis Highlights the Urgent Need for Catchment-Scale Mass Loading Data
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Rodriguez, C. A., Schramm, M., Postma, S., McDonald, T. J., Brinkmeyer-Langford, C., & Ma, X. (2026) · ACS ES&T Water · doi:10.1021/acsestwater.6c00886
- Authors
- Quezada Davalos, J. C., Michaud, M. A., Lowe, L. E., Hanson, E. N., & Owens, J. E.
- Affiliations
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, Colorado80918, United States
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs (US)
- Corresponding author
- Owens, Janel E.
- Venue
- ACS ES&T Water
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2022-12-07
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 96-105
- ISSN
- 2690-0637 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4311816589
- Cited by
- 14
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3
- FWCI
- 0.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- ACS ES&T Water (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Division of Chemistry (CHE-1429567)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Chemical Analysis and Environmental Impact
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Fluoride Effects and Removal
- Keywords
- per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS contamination, Colorado Springs, surface water, soil contamination, sediment contamination, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOS, aqueous film-forming foam, plant uptake, PFAS exposure
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