EPA introduces new national standards for 'forever chemicals' in drinking water

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a national drinking water standard Tuesday for six hazardous manufactured substances, known as "forever chemicals." If approved, the new limit would set the first regulatory standard for the chemicals.

PFAS, short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of highly toxic chemicals that have been used in a wide variety of products and industries for over seven decades, and can now be found globally in soil and water sources.

A growing body of evidence has shown that long-term exposure, even to low traces of these chemicals, can cause severe health issues that include cancer, developmental effects and reproductive disorders.

“Communities across this country have suffered far too long from the ever-present threat of PFAS pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “EPA’s proposal to establish a national standard for PFAS in drinking water is informed by the best available science."

Regan said the standard could prevent "tens of thousands of PFAS-related illnesses and marks a major step toward safeguarding all our communities from these dangerous contaminants.”

Public health and environmental experts have demanded the EPA regulate the pervasive chemicals for years. The agency was expected to send the proposed rule by fall 2022. Ten states have already established enforceable drinking-water standards for PFAS, despite the lack of a federal ruling. Arizona is not one of those states.

The agency will take comments from all stakeholders, including the public, and is expected to issue a final rule later this year.

Tainted water:PFAS contamination in south Tucson challenges historic cleanup, revives health concerns

What would change?

If approved, the national drinking water standard would require public water systems to monitor and limit exposure to PFAS by installing water treatment or switching to alternative water sources. Up until now, PFAS water treatment in most states was voluntary.

The rule would only apply to six of the thousands of compounds that make up the family of chemicals. Two of them would have individual regulations, the remaining four would be regulated as a mix.

In 2016, the EPA established a health advisory for drinking water for two of most prominent chemicals, PFOA and PFOS. In June 2022, it reduced its advisory for both by 17,000 and 3,500 times, respectively. It also added health advisories for two more PFAS compounds, PFBS and Gen X.

EPA's new proposed limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4 parts per trillion, the lowest limit at which the compounds can be detected with today's technology. If the chemical shows up, public water systems would have to clean it. For PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX compounds, the limit is relative. The combined limit of one or more of the chemicals would be calculated through an EPA-established hazard index.

Under the ruling, public water systems that detect PFAS would need to inform water users of the contamination, and work to limit or eliminate exposure. There is no benchmark water treatment for PFAS. The compounds are extremely hard to destroy and the technology is still new and extremely costly.

PFAS contamination:Arizona prepares to test hundreds of drinking water systems for toxic 'forever chemicals'

PFAS have been detected in Arizona

Arizona has a statewide PFAS sampling effort up and running. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, which has been testing for "forever chemicals" since 2018, expanded its effort to sample 29 different kinds of PFAS in public water systems in January. The ultimate goal is to map the 1,200 systems in the state.

ADEQ has tested over 450 public water systems to this day, and detected one or more types of PFAS in 72 of them. Many utilities have shut down contaminated wells to limit exposure. Until now, only Tucson and Marana have put a treatment system in place.

The EPA made it mandatory for every public water system serving more than 3,300 people to test for 29 kinds of PFAS, starting in January.

In Arizona 90% of the state's public water systems are smaller. ADEQ took actions to ensure no system is left untested, and will dedicate $3 million from federal Safe Drinking Water Act funds to that purpose.

ADEQ said it is working with operators of the affected systems to inform the community, limit exposure and treat water accordingly. The agency is also working with public water systems to identify funding to establish PFAS treatment. Funding sources include the Project Priority List funds from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona, and federal funds from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Testing results are available at the agency's interactive map.

Clara Migoya covers environment issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to clara.migoya@arizonarepublic.com.

Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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