PFAS
The EPA is considering limiting PFAS in commerce water through a rule. Currently, only three PFAS are permitted in commerce water, and the EPA is exploring other options, including the Toxic Substances Control Act. By 2023, the EPA plans to propose limits for certain PFAS chemical manufacturers, including plastics and synthetic fiber. The law would also regulate the discharge of PFAS from metal finishing operations. The EPA is also looking at airports as potential sources of PFAS pollution and landfills for possible limits on PFAS.
The study is being released at a critical time for the refinery to comply with new requirements under AB 756. The law requires that the water agency conduct an extensive public notification campaign, using a variety of methods, including newspaper, electronic and print media. The agency also issued guidelines for prospective public notification, which indicated that they would be able to meet the requirements for AB 756 by using a running average of quarterly samples.
The Commerce City, Colorado, has sent a letter to the Suncor oil refinery stating that the refinery is causing PFAS pollution in its water supply. The suit alleges that Suncor is a major contributor to PFAS pollution in the city. Although there is no official source of the contamination, it is likely to be absorbed by crops, which then enter the water supply and end up in the body of humans. Likewise, Suncor’s stormwater outfalls are a contributing factor to the overall impact of PFAS on Colorado’s waterways.
Lead
On January 17, 2017, the EPA published a proposed rule making regarding lead in plumbing materials and fixtures. This proposal codifies aspects of the 2011 Safe Drinking Water Act and Community Fire Safety Act. Both acts amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to prohibit lead-containing plumbing materials and fixtures in human-consumed water systems. The proposed rule also revised the definition of lead-free plumbing products and fixtures, and established a statutory method for calculating the amount of lead in a plumbing fixture or pipe.
Although lead levels in Commerce water are low, many residents should be aware of the dangers of lead in their water supplies. Although the EPA has set a safe level of 0.015 mg/L for drinking water, lead contamination in tap water can still be dangerous, especially for the immune system. To minimize your exposure to lead, buy certified bottled water and store it at home. This method eliminates the need for home testing. However, certified bottled water may not be the best long-term solution for your drinking water.
In addition, EPA is establishing new requirements for plumbing products that are introduced into commerce. These new rules will help ensure that plumbing products are lead-free, and that their use in public water systems and residential and nonresidential facilities is compliant with the regulation. Ultimately, it will help consumers by reducing their risk of exposure to lead, and saving the environment. But first, you should understand the EPA’s final rule.
Trihalomethanes
Commerce has received several water quality advisory letters citing trihalomethanes as one of the contaminants. These pollutants do not cause any immediate health risk and are not present in significant amounts. However, these levels can increase with the age of water, and therefore, consumers should flush their systems regularly to reduce the level of trihalomethanes. To reduce the level of trihalomethanes, the water treatment system should be improved.
In many parts of the world, tap water lacks improved sources of water and sanitation. This lack of access results in high rates of waterborne diseases and illnesses, including cancer. Chlorination is an important public health intervention to control waterborne infectious diseases, but this process produces several unwanted chemical byproducts, including trihalomethanes. Trihalomethanes may be ingested, absorbed through dermis, and accumulated in the body over years.