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EPA Maintains PFOA and PFOS Limits, Offers Flexibility for Water Systems Compliance
The Environmental Protection Agency has announced it will maintain the current limits for PFOA and PFOS, two major types of "forever chemicals," in drinking water while providing additional flexibility for implementation. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated they will uphold nationwide standards protecting Americans from these chemicals while offering additional time for water systems to achieve compliance. This approach aims to support water utilities across the country, particularly small systems in rural communities, as they work to address these contaminants.
Water utilities had previously challenged the EPA's regulations, arguing that treatment systems for removing these chemicals were expensive and would increase costs for customers. The EPA's recent decision aligns with some arguments made in the utilities' lawsuit, including granting a two-year extension for compliance. However, the agency plans to withdraw limits for certain newer types of PFAS chemicals. Currently, nearly 12 percent of U.S. water utilities exceed the Biden administration's established limits for these substances.
Environmental advocates have expressed concerns about the rollback, with the Natural Resources Defense Council calling the move illegal, citing provisions in the Safe Water Drinking Act that prevent new rules from being less stringent than previous ones.
In global water news, a recent report revealed that weather disasters forced a record number of people to leave their homes in 2024. Additionally, drought conditions continue to affect parts of the United States, with coastal Washington experiencing slight improvement while Extreme and Exceptional Drought expanded across portions of the Southwest.
Looking ahead, the Global Water Summit, a premier event for the water industry, took place from April 21 to 23 in Madrid, Spain. The summit brought together executives, policymakers, and innovators to discuss pressing challenges in water management including scarcity, climate change, infrastructure modernization, and sustainable financing.
World Water Day 2025 will focus on the theme of "Glacier Preservation" and will be marked with an event at United Nations Headquarters in New York, which will also celebrate the inaugural World Day for Glaciers. This initiative highlights the critical issue of rapidly melting glaciers and their impact on billions of people's lives as part of the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation and the beginning of the Decade of Action on Cryospheric Science.
Water utilities had previously challenged the EPA's regulations, arguing that treatment systems for removing these chemicals were expensive and would increase costs for customers. The EPA's recent decision aligns with some arguments made in the utilities' lawsuit, including granting a two-year extension for compliance. However, the agency plans to withdraw limits for certain newer types of PFAS chemicals. Currently, nearly 12 percent of U.S. water utilities exceed the Biden administration's established limits for these substances.
Environmental advocates have expressed concerns about the rollback, with the Natural Resources Defense Council calling the move illegal, citing provisions in the Safe Water Drinking Act that prevent new rules from being less stringent than previous ones.
In global water news, a recent report revealed that weather disasters forced a record number of people to leave their homes in 2024. Additionally, drought conditions continue to affect parts of the United States, with coastal Washington experiencing slight improvement while Extreme and Exceptional Drought expanded across portions of the Southwest.
Looking ahead, the Global Water Summit, a premier event for the water industry, took place from April 21 to 23 in Madrid, Spain. The summit brought together executives, policymakers, and innovators to discuss pressing challenges in water management including scarcity, climate change, infrastructure modernization, and sustainable financing.
World Water Day 2025 will focus on the theme of "Glacier Preservation" and will be marked with an event at United Nations Headquarters in New York, which will also celebrate the inaugural World Day for Glaciers. This initiative highlights the critical issue of rapidly melting glaciers and their impact on billions of people's lives as part of the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation and the beginning of the Decade of Action on Cryospheric Science.
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By Quiet. PleaseThe Environmental Protection Agency has announced it will maintain the current limits for PFOA and PFOS, two major types of "forever chemicals," in drinking water while providing additional flexibility for implementation. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated they will uphold nationwide standards protecting Americans from these chemicals while offering additional time for water systems to achieve compliance. This approach aims to support water utilities across the country, particularly small systems in rural communities, as they work to address these contaminants.
Water utilities had previously challenged the EPA's regulations, arguing that treatment systems for removing these chemicals were expensive and would increase costs for customers. The EPA's recent decision aligns with some arguments made in the utilities' lawsuit, including granting a two-year extension for compliance. However, the agency plans to withdraw limits for certain newer types of PFAS chemicals. Currently, nearly 12 percent of U.S. water utilities exceed the Biden administration's established limits for these substances.
Environmental advocates have expressed concerns about the rollback, with the Natural Resources Defense Council calling the move illegal, citing provisions in the Safe Water Drinking Act that prevent new rules from being less stringent than previous ones.
In global water news, a recent report revealed that weather disasters forced a record number of people to leave their homes in 2024. Additionally, drought conditions continue to affect parts of the United States, with coastal Washington experiencing slight improvement while Extreme and Exceptional Drought expanded across portions of the Southwest.
Looking ahead, the Global Water Summit, a premier event for the water industry, took place from April 21 to 23 in Madrid, Spain. The summit brought together executives, policymakers, and innovators to discuss pressing challenges in water management including scarcity, climate change, infrastructure modernization, and sustainable financing.
World Water Day 2025 will focus on the theme of "Glacier Preservation" and will be marked with an event at United Nations Headquarters in New York, which will also celebrate the inaugural World Day for Glaciers. This initiative highlights the critical issue of rapidly melting glaciers and their impact on billions of people's lives as part of the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation and the beginning of the Decade of Action on Cryospheric Science.
Water utilities had previously challenged the EPA's regulations, arguing that treatment systems for removing these chemicals were expensive and would increase costs for customers. The EPA's recent decision aligns with some arguments made in the utilities' lawsuit, including granting a two-year extension for compliance. However, the agency plans to withdraw limits for certain newer types of PFAS chemicals. Currently, nearly 12 percent of U.S. water utilities exceed the Biden administration's established limits for these substances.
Environmental advocates have expressed concerns about the rollback, with the Natural Resources Defense Council calling the move illegal, citing provisions in the Safe Water Drinking Act that prevent new rules from being less stringent than previous ones.
In global water news, a recent report revealed that weather disasters forced a record number of people to leave their homes in 2024. Additionally, drought conditions continue to affect parts of the United States, with coastal Washington experiencing slight improvement while Extreme and Exceptional Drought expanded across portions of the Southwest.
Looking ahead, the Global Water Summit, a premier event for the water industry, took place from April 21 to 23 in Madrid, Spain. The summit brought together executives, policymakers, and innovators to discuss pressing challenges in water management including scarcity, climate change, infrastructure modernization, and sustainable financing.
World Water Day 2025 will focus on the theme of "Glacier Preservation" and will be marked with an event at United Nations Headquarters in New York, which will also celebrate the inaugural World Day for Glaciers. This initiative highlights the critical issue of rapidly melting glaciers and their impact on billions of people's lives as part of the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation and the beginning of the Decade of Action on Cryospheric Science.