Michigan Municipal League November/December 2023 Review Magazine

Putting Communities Ahead of Polluters

Alleviating Taxpayers’ Burden of Treating PFAS-Contaminated Water

–By Michael DiGiannantonio

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are found in nearly half of the tap water in the U.S., according to a recent study from the U.S. Geological Survey. Named “forever chemicals” because of their strong chemical bond, PFAS remain in the environment, in humans, and in wildlife for a very long time. These man-made chemicals have been used in industry and consumer products for decades and can be found in drinking water and in air and food supply, affecting communities and posing a serious threat across rural, suburban, and urban areas. What Are the Risks? PFAS have been shown to have serious adverse effects on people’s health, including an increased risk of cancer, thyroid disorders, ulcerative colitis, an increase in liver enzymes, infertility, and pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia. Due to PFAS widespread production and use, as well as their ability to remain in the environment, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that most people in the U.S. have been exposed to some levels of PFAS. In fact, a study suggests that PFAS chemicals could be found in 98 percent of the U.S. population.

As a result of these risks, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently took a significant step to protect public health by proposing to establish legally enforceable levels for six PFAS compounds known to occur in drinking water, which would introduce the first-ever national standard to address PFAS in drinking water. If finalized, the standard would regulate PFOA and PFOS as individual contaminants, and would regulate four other PFAS—PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX Chemicals—as a mixture. This will require public water systems to monitor for these chemicals. It will also require systems to notify the public and reduce PFAS contamination if levels exceed the proposed regulatory standards. The Cleanup Costs of PFAS At the state level, many agencies are taking steps to address PFAS contamination by identifying and disclosing where PFAS are manufactured, where releases to the environment are occurring, and their use in food packaging and other consumer items. However, further actions are needed to ensure environmental protection and public safety, including increased investment in developing laboratory methods to test for PFAS in drinking water, in wastewater, and at contaminated sites: increased investment in research for treatment to remove PFAS in drinking water and at contaminated sites: and further research into associated human health risks.

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| November/December 2023