- Aug 11, 2023
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Hello folks. America has has issues with toxic water before, such as with lead as in Flint, MI. The EPA has made a law to remove harmful "forever chemicals" from the water. Here is the article: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/bi...s-first-ever-national-drinking-water-standard
EPA article summary:
The article announces the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard issued by the Biden-Harris Administration to protect communities from exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals." Exposure to PFAS has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts on the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage in infants and children. This final rule will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses.
The announcement comes with $1 billion in newly available funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states and territories implement PFAS testing and treatment at public water systems and to help owners of private wells address PFAS contamination. This is part of a $9 billion investment to help communities with drinking water impacted by PFAS and other emerging contaminants, the largest-ever investment in tackling PFAS pollution. An additional $12 billion is available for general drinking water improvements, including addressing emerging contaminants like PFAS.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory made the announcement at an event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where residents were affected by PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River. The rule sets limits for five individual PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (also known as "GenX Chemicals") and a limit for mixtures of any two or more of four PFAS: PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and "GenX chemicals."
The Biden Administration's commitment to ending cancer as we know it through the Cancer Moonshot initiative is also highlighted in the article. The new limits will prevent thousands of premature deaths, tens of thousands of serious illnesses, including certain cancers and liver and heart impacts in adults, and immune and developmental impacts to infants and children.
The rule will apply to about 66,000 public drinking water systems subject to this rule, with three years for initial monitoring and five years to implement solutions to reduce PFAS in their drinking water. The new limits are achievable using a range of available technologies, including granular activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange systems. EPA will work closely with state co-regulators to support water systems and local officials in implementing the rule and provide information through a series of webinars.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and environmental organizations like the Environmental Working Group and Clean Cape Fear have expressed their support for the new standards. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes an unprecedented $21 billion available to strengthen drinking water systems, including addressing PFAS contamination. EPA also has a Water Technical Assistance program to help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities access federal resources and apply for water infrastructure funding.
PFAS are prevalent in the environment and can be found in everyday products since the 1940s due to their ability to repel oil and water and resist heat. Exposure to certain PFAS over a long period of time can cause cancer and other illnesses, with impacts felt during critical life stages like pregnancy or early childhood. Across the country, PFAS contamination is impacting millions of people's health and wellbeing through drinking water or food, products containing PFAS, or workplace exposures.
EPA article summary:
The article announces the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard issued by the Biden-Harris Administration to protect communities from exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals." Exposure to PFAS has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts on the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage in infants and children. This final rule will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses.
The announcement comes with $1 billion in newly available funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states and territories implement PFAS testing and treatment at public water systems and to help owners of private wells address PFAS contamination. This is part of a $9 billion investment to help communities with drinking water impacted by PFAS and other emerging contaminants, the largest-ever investment in tackling PFAS pollution. An additional $12 billion is available for general drinking water improvements, including addressing emerging contaminants like PFAS.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory made the announcement at an event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where residents were affected by PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River. The rule sets limits for five individual PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (also known as "GenX Chemicals") and a limit for mixtures of any two or more of four PFAS: PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and "GenX chemicals."
The Biden Administration's commitment to ending cancer as we know it through the Cancer Moonshot initiative is also highlighted in the article. The new limits will prevent thousands of premature deaths, tens of thousands of serious illnesses, including certain cancers and liver and heart impacts in adults, and immune and developmental impacts to infants and children.
The rule will apply to about 66,000 public drinking water systems subject to this rule, with three years for initial monitoring and five years to implement solutions to reduce PFAS in their drinking water. The new limits are achievable using a range of available technologies, including granular activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange systems. EPA will work closely with state co-regulators to support water systems and local officials in implementing the rule and provide information through a series of webinars.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and environmental organizations like the Environmental Working Group and Clean Cape Fear have expressed their support for the new standards. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes an unprecedented $21 billion available to strengthen drinking water systems, including addressing PFAS contamination. EPA also has a Water Technical Assistance program to help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities access federal resources and apply for water infrastructure funding.
PFAS are prevalent in the environment and can be found in everyday products since the 1940s due to their ability to repel oil and water and resist heat. Exposure to certain PFAS over a long period of time can cause cancer and other illnesses, with impacts felt during critical life stages like pregnancy or early childhood. Across the country, PFAS contamination is impacting millions of people's health and wellbeing through drinking water or food, products containing PFAS, or workplace exposures.
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