By STAFF REPORTS
On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will rescind four of the six chemicals named in the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, keeping maximum contaminant levels for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS).
The agency announced it will be rescinding and reconsidering regulations for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (commonly known as GenX), and the Hazard Index mixture of these three plus PFBS, “to ensure that the determinations and any resulting drinking water regulation follow the legal process laid out in the Safe Drinking Water Act.”
All are considered “forever chemicals,” commonly referred to as PFAS. They are widely used chemicals in products that break down slowly over time. Because of widespread use, they are found in blood of people and animals and in the environment. Studies have shown they are linked to negative health effects.
“The work to protect Americans from PFAS in drinking water started under the first Trump Administration and will continue under my leadership,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin in an agency news release. “We are on a path to uphold the agency’s nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water. At the same time, we will work to provide common-sense flexibility in the form of additional time for compliance. This will support water systems across the country, including small systems in rural communities, as they work to address these contaminants. EPA will also continue to use its regulatory and enforcement tools to hold polluters accountable.”
As more research has been done in recent years, officials believe local water systems will bear the financial burden of attempting to remove these chemicals from drinking water sources. The American Water Works Association estimates between $3 and $6 billion annually.
It appears part of EPA’s motivation for the announcement is taking into consideration these costs.
“Paired with effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for PFAS and other tools to ensure that polluters are held responsible, EPA’s actions are designed to reduce the burden on drinking water systems and the cost of water bills, all while continuing to protect public health and ensure that the agency is following the law in establishing impactful regulations such as these,” the release states. “EPA is also announcing its intent to rescind the regulations and reconsider the regulatory determinations for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (commonly known as GenX), and the Hazard Index mixture of these three plus PFBS to ensure that the determinations and any resulting drinking water regulation follow the legal process laid out in the Safe Drinking Water Act.”ates the challenge.
