In another indication that PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are emerging as the next major environmental hazard for communities, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers teamed up with the Department of Natural Resources in September 2024 to propose updating the state’s drinking water safety standards to match federal guidance concerning the “forever chemicals.” PFAS earned the name “forever chemicals” because they can exist in soil, water, air, and the human body for years.
“PFAS are very persistent in the environment and in the human body – meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse health outcomes in humans.” – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The initiative in Wisconsin aims to bring the state into compliance with the EPA’s new PFAS rules, especially where it concerns three PFAS compounds that are not currently regulated at the state level.
“Every Wisconsinite deserves access to clean, safe water that is free of lead, PFAS, and other harmful contaminants… With each day of delay in setting basic standards and getting meaningful investments out the door to protect our natural resources and get contaminants out of our water, the more costly these efforts will become,” Governor Evers said in an announcement of the proposal.
Wisconsin joins a growing group of states who have either established or proposed updated PFAS rules for drinking water. Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia have all answered the EPA’s regulatory call, according to reporting from the NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures).
What are PFAS?
The chemicals have been around since the 1940s. Some research has found that PFAS exist in the blood stream of as much as 98% of the American populace, mainly from water and food contamination, because some of the uses of the chemicals have been in the creation of non-stick cookware and food packaging. However, the most concerning levels of PFAS are often found on military bases and airports, where it was used as a fire suppression tool, according to GPRS Environmental Segment Leader, Matthew Piper.
“PFAS as an emerging contaminant has presented unique challenges to our communities and to the environmental industry. As the EPA continues to address PFAS concerns, GPRS is partnering with environmental consultants to aid in multiple phases of the work, from initial investigation through clean up.”
The EPA established new federal guidelines that update and formalize their previous “nonenforceable” health advisory PFAS guidelines from 2016. The new regulations state the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFAS; and states are required to adopt the regulations if they want to maintain control of their water infrastructure. The current MCLs for PFAS are:
• PFOA & PFOS – 4 parts per trillion
• PFNA, PFHxS & HFPO-DA (GenX) – 10 parts per trillion
• Mixtures of PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX – 1.3 on the Hazard Index
The new regulations are expected to “reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses.” According to the EPA.
What is the EPA’s PFAS MCL Hazard Index?
The Hazard Index is not new. It is a long-established process to determine health issues that are associated with chemical exposure. Previous use cases for the Hazard Index include Superfund Program sites. The Index is calculated by adding the ratio of the concentration in the water sample to a Health Based Water Concentration.
The formula for the Index looks like this:
And here are examples from the EPA on how the Hazard Index is calculated:
How will the EPA ensure implementation and regulatory compliance?
The regulatory responsibility and implementation are empowered through the Safe Drinking Water Act, according to Eric Burneson, EPA’s Director of Standards and Risk Management Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Under the new regulations, public water systems must
• Conduct initial and ongoing compliance monitoring for the regulated PFAS
• Implement solutions to reduce regulated PFAS in their drinking water if levels violate the MCLs
• Inform the public of the levels of regulated PFAS measured in their drinking water and if an MCL is exceeded
The goal is to protect public health “while allowing for maximum flexibility, cost savings, and burden reduction for public water systems.” You can learn more about implementation and regulatory compliance from the EPA’s Office of Water, here.
Ensuring fresh water for communities across the United States is important to GPRS. That’s one of the reasons we sponsor Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week (WSDAW) every fall, to provide water and wastewater managers and municipal decision-makers with valuable education on best practices to safeguard the nation’s water and sewer infrastructure.
There are still a few spots available for 2024’s WSDAW event. Click here to register so that we can bring our complimentary safety education to your organization.
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