On March 7, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended nationwide limits on the levels of PFAS, also called “synthetic chemicals”, in drinking water. If this new rule is approved, it would go a long way in preventing thousands of deaths and diseases caused by these poisons.
PFAS stands for “per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances,” they are synthetic chemicals and have been widely used for decades in items such as nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, certain cosmetics and some firefighting foams, per the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
PFAS break down over time but the process is slow. They can last a long time in the environment, most notably drinking water and have been discovered in the blood of humans and animals. According to the CDC,continuous exposure to these chemicals have been linked to an increased risk of testicular and kidney cancer, increased cholesterol levels and low infant birth weights. New scientific evidence points to even low amounts of PFAS as harmful.
The EPA expects to conclude its recommendations by the end of this year, with water utilities beginning to follow it three years later. This would require the utilities to invest money in the new technology, but the newly passed “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” would provide $10 billion towards reducing drinking water contamination.
The recommended rule would not apply to those with private wells, however the EPA website provides information on testing for and the prevention of private well contamination.
I’m sure we all remember when the town of Merrimack was apprised of these synthetic chemicals in their drinking water. That was 7 years ago, and they are still dealing with this problem. So there are those in Merrimack who are happy with the EPA’s recent announcement of proposing the federal drinking water standard of 4 parts per trillion for contamination. That will go a long way towards positively ensuring people’s health.
Governor Sununu has voiced his concerns, stating the EPA is raising the bar to high. "Maybe they look good on paper, but they're unreasonable. They're unattainable in many ways. There's a question not just of the science behind it but the hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars it would take to even try to attain the levels they're pushing."
Sigh.
Hasn’t the governor heard of the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law”?