On April 10th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a meeting in the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina, where federal government officials announced the nation’s first-ever regulations setting limits on forever chemicals in drinking water.
The new regulations aim to reduce toxic chemicals in drinking water, making it safer for over 100 million Americans. The new requirements mandate more than 200 chemical factories nationwide to reduce toxic emissions that could cause cancer. Officials say this measure can prevent cancer and thousands of other diseases.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan stated that this is the first mandatory drinking water standard in the U.S. regarding forever chemicals.
Forever chemicals are a class of compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have heat, water, and oil-resistant properties. Studies show that exposure to PFAS can lead to serious health risks, including certain cancers, liver and heart damage in adults, and immune system damage and developmental issues in infants and children.
The Safe Drinking Water Act establishes standards for PFAS in water, marking the first federal regulation targeting such contaminants. The newly announced regulations set limits for five forever chemicals, including PFOA and PFOS, as well as four combinations of PFAS. Water companies are required to monitor and reduce PFAS levels in drinking water according to federal standards, with violations mandating public notification.
Ken Cook, President and Co-Founder of the Environmental Working Group, stated that nearly every American’s blood contains PFAS, including unborn children in the womb.
Toxic chemicals emitted by the Chemours chemical plant in Fayetteville, North Carolina, have contaminated the drinking water of over 100,000 people in the surrounding area.
Regan stated, “This is not about your political affiliation, where you live, or how much money you have.” He emphasized that when it comes to basic clean water needs, regardless of party affiliation or region, every individual should be able to trust that the water they drink and provide to their children is safe.
Many supporters view this as a long-overdue protective measure, while drinking water companies are concerned about the cost implications. Officials from the Fayetteville Public Utilities Commission stated that installing granular activated carbon (GAC) filters is estimated to cost between $80 to $100 million.
The federal government announced an additional allocation of $1 billion to support states in upgrading infrastructure to comply with the new regulations, though some of these costs may be passed on to water users.