Those in our industry know the importance of clean water and sanitation. Members of the water and wastewater sector have worked tirelessly to protect our waterways from industrial pollution, ensuring the health and safety of water and ensuring access for all. The impetus for dramatic changes to the way the rest of the country views our water supply and treatment efforts, the Clean Water Act, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, though we are still combating the effects of harmful contaminants in our waterways and drinking water supply.
As we were putting this issue — our last of 2023 — together I came across an article about the pervasiveness of PFAS in our environment. The piece, published in a national news outlet, pointed to several places where detectable levels of fluorine, an indicator of the prevalence of these chemicals, was found — including athletic wear, feminine hygiene products, and makeup. The spotlight placed on these and other emerging contaminants by the mainstream media signals a shift in the public attitude toward securing our water supply, which is fantastic. Yet, I worry that the narrative that these chemicals are pervasive, with no end in sight has led to complacency.
As water professionals, we have touted the risks these chemicals pose to our environment for years. As passive receivers of this pollution, our treatment plants have also had to get creative when seeking to eliminate them from drinking water supplies. Thankfully, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposal to designate two of the most widely used PFAS (Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)) as hazardous substances under CERCLA, or Superfund, in August.
The agency’s Strategic Roadmap for PFAS recognizes that “PFAS is a public health and environmental issue facing communities across the United States,” and EPA even awarded nearly $750,000 in research grant funding to better understand PFAS exposure in several communities throughout the country in October. These actions, coupled with the $1 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant funding for the water sector, will go a long way to ensuring that our communities can work to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water. In addition, EPA-issued health advisory levels for PFAS will continue to put pressure on manufacturers and polluters to clean up their mess.
There is so much we can do at the local level, too. In California, the Orange County Water District (OCWD) and the city of Orange have begun operating four treatment plants to remove PFAS from local well water, among 36 PFAS treatment facilities being designed and constructed in Orange County over the next two years. The district is employing an Ion Exchange treatment system, that can treat up to 7,500 gallons of water per minute combined. And that is just one example — there are other utilities working to combat this pollution in myriad ways across the country.
We’ve come a long way since the Clean Water Act’s passage. With readers like you guiding the industry, I have no doubt that we can do even more work to advance science and ensure clean water access for all in the future.
Here’s to the next 50 years. Thanks for reading! WW
Published in WaterWorld magazine, November 2022.
