(from EPA & Senator deViere’s office)
The EPA has issued LIFETIME Drinking Water Health Advisories for four PFAS Chemicals. The agency establishes new health advisories for GenX and PFBS.
The order requires Chemours to provide whole house filtration for private drinking water wells with Gen-X concentrations that fall within the new health advisory
The Department of Environmental Quality estimates that more than 1700 additional private well users will now be eligible for whole house filtration or connection to a public water supply
The DEQ has sent a letter to Chemours directing them to proceed with the implementation of the health advisory and additional information to be provided to residents regarding their options and next steps as soon as possible
According to the EPA, there is an increased risk of adverse health effects, including effects on the immune system, the cardiovascular system, human development, and cancer, when drinking water with these compounds above the health advisory over a lifetime.
The EPA recommends that water systems that measure any levels of PFOA or PFOS to take steps in informing customers, undertaking additional sampling to assess the levels, scope and source of the contamination, and to examine steps in limiting exposure.
The EPA is NOT recommending bottled water or providing alternative water sources.
To view the entire document click the link below. A community meeting will take place in July. Details coming soon.
The Cumberland County delegation attended a GenX briefing on June 16th, 2022. To view the press release click the link below.
https://files.constantcontact.com/6f80e294701/1860ec17-e562-404e-8bdf-3f43ccc55e95.pdf
Comments from the EPA announcement:
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan – “People on the front-lines of PFAS contamination have suffered for far too long. That’s why EPA is taking aggressive action as part of a whole-of-government approach to prevent these chemicals from entering the environment and to help protect concerned families from this pervasive challenge.”
EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox – “EPA is also demonstrating its commitment to harmonize policies that strengthen public health protections with infrastructure funding to help communities – especially disadvantaged communities – deliver safe water.”
Assistant Administrator Fox announced these actions at the 3rd National PFAS Conference in Wilmington, North Carolina.
