Ontario Environment Industry Association (ONEIA)’s Post

The global evidence is prevalent, our environment and water sources are laced with PFA’s. It’s easy to say that Australian drinking water meets the ADWGL when the levels set are way above international standards. It appears to me when we can’t meet the standards we just change them. Moving numbers around or increasing what’s so called exceptable doesn’t fix the problem…. It hides it . Erin Brockovich warned Australia She warned Australia needed to be prepared and proactive. "We are seeing and making associations of this chemical with reproductive issues, in particular," Ms Brockovich said. "We're seeing testicular cancers, we're seeing health implications with firemen and military men who are directly exposed to this chemical. "So let's start being prepared, let's start looking at where the contamination is, let's start getting all the municipalities with filtration systems. "We're not kidding when we say this is going to be the largest emerging groundwater contamination and food supply chain [issue] that we have ever seen.” Waiting around for the Government to take action and implement better testing practices and stricter regulations and standards wouldn’t be my recommendation. Australia home owners need to be proactive and look at ways to help mitigate daily chemical exposure.

L2C Partners Viewpoint: On April 10th, the EPA implemented the first-ever national drinking water standard for PFAS. As a result, developing more economically friendly and efficient sensing techniques has become increasingly important. Universities, including L2C Partners clients, are crucial in creating more cost-effective and efficient sensing techniques to protect public health.

An exciting milestone today in the world of PFAS - final drinking water standards are here. The final rule includes new individual MCLs for PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX at 10 parts per trillion (ppt) in addition to the originally proposed 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS and the combined hazard index for PFNA, PFHxS, GenX, and PFBS. This final rule is expected to impact thousands of public drinking water systems around the country and set a basis for many states to continue their work addressing PFAS in their communities. Read more about the final standard here: https://lnkd.in/gYKdWDmq

There is a recent article on the AWWA/AMWC's challenging USEPA's drinking water limits for PFAS that indicates that "consumers are funding the attacks on their water quality" and that the associations are "trying to thwart proposals that would clean up the state's water." The article fails to mention that 30% of consumers find that their water and sewer bills are unaffordable. The article also fails to mention the conservatism that is built into USEPA's risk calculations, that most of the human exposure from PFOA and PFOS are from household products that consumers routinely use, and that at least for PFOA and PFOS, USEPA's limits are at or below what is measured in rain water. It also fails to mention that the relative benefit of regulating PFOA and PFOS will be much lower than previously regulated contaminants (see https://lnkd.in/ev8puVtU) It's (relatively) easy to establish conservative criteria - it is much harder to ask the question that public health officials should be asking - that is, do we want a community to spend $20M+ on drinking water treatment, consume a lot of energy, and generate hazardous waste to be disposed of because the water supply has low levels of PFOA or PFOS that may cause adverse health outcomes? Particularly if more ratepayers will have unaffordable water and sewer bills and there other pressing environmental and public health needs where public investment should be redirected? It's so easy for journalists to jump on the single-issue bandwagon. It's up to us to try to educate our lawmakers and the general public on the science and engineering behind these decisions. Here's the article: EPA’s drinking water limits for PFAS are under threat – and that’s nothing new | US news | The Guardian

Breaking News: A Health Revolution! 🚰🎉 Amidst growing health concerns, the US signals a historic move! For the first time, nationwide regulations mandate the removal of six PFAS chemicals from our tap water. PFAS, infamous for their links to cancer and other serious health conditions, will no longer be an invisible threat in our glasses. On Wednesday, authorities set a groundbreaking rule, compelling local administrations to purify our water systems. This is a victory not just for health but for peace of mind — knowing that what flows from our taps is safe for our families. In a substantial boost to this initiative, the government is infusing an extra $1bn to support removal efforts. This much-needed funding is the lifeblood of the operation, ensuring that communities across the country have the financial backing to enforce these new standards. Here's to clearer, cleaner water and the promise of healthier lives! 💙🌿 #CleanWater #HealthRevolution #PFASRemoval

EPA has released the final National Primary Drinking Water Rule for PFAS. The numerical values are similar to what we saw in the draft rule, and the regulations are as follows: PFOS MCL: 4.0 ppt PFOA MCL: 4.0 ppt PFHxS MCL: 10 ppt (was 9 ppt as part of the HI in the draft rule) PFNA MCL: 10 ppt HFPO-DA (GenX): 10 ppt Mixtures containing PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS: Hazard Index of 1 (was 1.0 in the draft rule) We're also partnering with AMWA on May 15 to break down what's in the rule, and talk about the implications and timing to be aware of - you can register here: https://lnkd.in/gtqRb3vW https://lnkd.in/gSekt-fD

Latest publication from our group! A review on the removal of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from tap water by point of use treatments. Thanks to Henry MACKEOWN for the great work, as usual! #ScienceOfTheTotalEnvironment #PFAS

https://lnkd.in/eMUmd569 The EPA has released its long awaited final rule setting National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for certain PFAS. One of the steps that EPA recommends for reducing PFAS is to use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFAS reduction. Proud to work for an organization committed to improving human and planet health! #OneNSF #NSFProud #PFASreduction

- The EPA finalizes a rule to significantly reduce PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in U.S. drinking water, marking the agency's first-ever limit on these "forever chemicals." - The new rule aims to lower PFAS exposure affecting approximately 100 million Americans by requiring utilities to reduce PFAS to the lowest detectable levels. - Exposure to PFAS is linked to various health issues, including cancers and developmental damage, with a government study finding PFAS in nearly half of the country's tap water. - Nearly $1 billion in funding will support states and territories to implement PFAS testing and treatment in public water systems and assist private well owners. - While health advocates praise the EPA's move, water utilities express concerns over the rule's costs, which could potentially impact small communities and raise customer water bills. - Public water systems are given three years to test for PFAS and must inform the public of their findings, with a five-year window to comply with the new standards upon exceeding them. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gTdpSd_C #CleanWater #EnvironmentalProtection #PublicHealth #PFASRegulation #SustainableLiving

🚨 PFAS in Texas Public Water Systems 🚨 I recently came across an insightful article by The Texas Tribune about the growing concern around PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination in Texas’ public water systems. PFAS, often called "forever chemicals," are linked to cancer and other serious health risks, and the EPA has been working to limit these toxic substances. 🧪 Key Takeaways: The article effectively explains the risks of PFAS and the urgency around regulating them. It highlights recent efforts by the EPA to set limits on these chemicals in drinking water, which is crucial for protecting public health. While informative, the piece could benefit from offering more solutions or ways to mitigate exposure. This is a critical issue that deserves more attention, and I encourage anyone interested in environmental sustainability and public health to give it a read. 🌍💧 Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/deAJ27Fy #environmentalhealth #publichealth #sustainability #PFAS #cleanwater #Texas