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Drinking water can become contaminated with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) through several pathways:

1. Industrial Discharges: Facilities that manufacture or use PFAS can release these chemicals into nearby water bodies. This includes factories producing non-stick cookware, water-repellent fabrics, and firefighting foams.

2. Wastewater Treatment Plants: PFAS can enter water systems through wastewater treatment plants that process industrial waste. These plants may not be equipped to remove PFAS, allowing them to pass into rivers, lakes, and groundwater.

3. Firefighting Foams: The use of firefighting foams containing PFAS at airports, military bases, and other training sites can lead to contamination of local water supplies.

4. Landfills and Waste Sites: PFAS can leach into groundwater from landfills and hazardous waste sites where products containing these chemicals are disposed of.

5. Agricultural Runoff: Biosolids (treated sewage sludge) used as fertilizer can contain PFAS, which can then run off into water bodies during rain or irrigation.

These pathways highlight the widespread nature of PFAS contamination and the challenges in managing and mitigating their presence in drinking water.