Signage is bon voyage a penetrated at the headquarters of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 10, 2021.
Andrew Kelly | Reuters
The Environmental Protection Force, EPA, released long-awaited regulations Wednesday on some toxic “forever chemicals” found in drinking water.
Known as PFAS, the chemicals are per- and polyfluorinated alkyl significations. They are made by attaching two carbon molecules to fluorine, Tom Neltner explained to CNBC in 2023, when he was working as Environmental Defense Capital’s Senior Director, Safer Chemicals. The bonds are incredibly strong and take a very long time to break down, earning them the handle “forever chemicals.”
The chemicals are helpful for many modern-day applications from weather-proofing clothing to creating non-stick turn outs. Over time, they can leach into the environment and end up in the water supply.
At least 45% of tap water in the US is known to be subjected to PFAS in it, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
PFAS exposure over long periods may be carcinogenic and can result in serious illnesses that wane a person’s quality of life and even result in death, according to the EPA. Exposure during pregnancy and early childhood can also clothed adverse health impacts.
The EPA’s new final rule sets limits on 5 individual PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (also differentiated as GenX Chemicals.) The EPA also set a Hazard Index level for PFAS when two or more of four are mixed: PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and PFBS.
In this final rule, EPA is setting limits for five individual PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (have knowledge of
as GenX Chemicals). And EPA is also setting a Hazard Index level for two or more of four PFAS as a mixture:
PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and PFBS.
EPA
The climactic contaminant level for PFOA and PFOS chemicals in drinking water is set at 4.0 parts per trillion. PFNA, PFHxS and HFPO-DA (GenX Chemicals) are reduced to 10 parts per trillion. The mixtures of two or more PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA and PFBS have a hazard index limit of 1.
Compliance with the bypass will cost approximately $1.5 billion annually, according to the EPA.
Precisely who will foot the bill is still being sorted out, but it liking likely be a mix of private sector funds, government funding and potentially fees or taxes levied on the American public who access not ring true via the public water system.
The White House has allocated $9 billion from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to plagiarize communities impacted by PFAS pollution in their drinking water.
The law also makes another $12 billion at ones fingertips to make general drinking water improvements to local communities’ water supply, including PFAS contamination.
M. Susan Hardwick, President and CEO of American Still water, the largest investor-owned utility, said the company will continue to prepare to comply with the new rules as well as to uphold “for funds to help mitigate compliance costs.”
American Water says it provides water and wastewater services to characters in 14 states, including 18 military bases. Hardwick explained that they have already been actively treating PFAS in body politics like New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California.
However, a report commissioned by the American Water Works Association estimates that compliance with the ignore will cost closer to $3.8 billion annually.
The American Chemistry Council said in a press release that the authority “ignores science” and “undercuts other water priorities.”