WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The Environmental Protection Agency announced strict limits on certain so-called “forever chemicals” in drinking water that will require utilities to reduce them to the lowest level they can be reliably measured.
Officials say this will reduce exposure for 100 million people and help prevent thousands of illnesses, including cancers.
“We want to make sure that all Americans are protected from their drinking water,” Mae Wu, Deputy Assistant Administrator said.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced the first-ever national standard to limit toxic chemicals known as PFAs in public water systems.
“We are going to reduce the exposure of 200 million people,” Wu said.
PFAs has been linked to cancers, liver and heart issues, and developmental issues for infants and children.
Mae Wu with the EPA says the new rule requires public drinking water systems to monitor, reduce, and report high levels of the chemicals.
“Nobody in America needs to worry about and should have to worry about whether or not when they turn on the tap, they can use it to make their coffee,” Wu said.
The EPA says it will provide nearly $1 billion in funding to help states and territories meet the new standards.
Michigan Democratic congressman Dan Kildee applauds the Biden administration for taking this step.
“This standard acknowledges what we have known for years that PFAS poses a grave threat to health for all of us, Rep. Dan Kildee, (D-Mich.) said.
Melaine Benesh with the Environmental Working Group says this is a win for clean water advocates.
“There could not be a more important chemical for the EPA to be tackling in drinking water,” Melaine Benesh at the Environmental Working Group said.
