On this West Virginia Morning, tap water testing conducted in 18 states by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found New Martinsville had the second-highest level of PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in the country at 40 parts per trillion. Chris Schulz spoke with EWG senior scientist Tasha Stoiber about water contamination, its health risks, and possible solutions.
On this West Virginia Morning, tap water testing conducted in 18 states by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found New Martinsville had the second-highest level of PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in the country at 40 parts per trillion.
PFAS are manmade chemicals used in an array of industrial processes and consumer products but linger in the environment and pose a risk to human health. Chris Schulz spoke with EWG senior scientist Tasha Stoiber about water contamination, its health risks, and possible solutions.
Also, in this show, the West Virginia Hospital Association released its Community Benefit report this week. Emily Rice has the story.
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Tap water testing conducted in 18 states by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found New Martinsville had the second-highest level of PFAS in the country at 40 parts per trillion.
Tap water testing conducted in 18 states by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found New Martinsville had the second-highest level of PFAS in the country at 40 parts per trillion.
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are manmade chemicals used in an array of industrial processes and consumer products, but linger in the environment and pose a risk to human health.
Of the 36 locations tested by the nonprofit research and advocacy organization, only Monroe, New Jersey had higher levels at 80 parts per trillion.
The EPA has proposed a new limit for some PFAS of four parts per trillion.
Tasha Stoiber, senior scientist for EWG, said the EPA’s proposed regulation is significant and overdue, but more can be done for public health.
“The health based limit that we want to be working towards, that is different from the enforceable legal MCL (maximum contaminant limit), the four parts per trillion,” she said. “Actually the goal would be zero because there’s no actual safe limit of these chemicals in your drinking water. The goal is zero, they are linked to cancer.”
Stoiber said consumers can take proactive steps, such as filtering their water at the tap before drinking, but more will need to be done to address the larger issue.
“The mental burden of having to figure out what filter to buy, the economic burden, this shouldn’t be placed on individuals or the community,” she said. “Recognizing that it should be the polluters that were originally responsible for this and that have profited so much over the last few decades, it should be the polluters that pay to fix this.”
The EPA is in the process of collecting samples to understand the frequency the chemicals are found in the nation’s drinking water systems and at what levels. The data collection is slated to take place through 2025, and Stoiber said it could be some time before the data is publicly available.
“That’s why we continue to do these smaller testing projects, just to get more results out there and to show that this contaminant contamination is quite widespread,” she said.
Gov. Jim Justice’s office has directed the DHHR and DEP to collaborate with water systems in West Virginia in preparation of the revised EPA guidelines.
State health office Mathew Christiansen noted that the data are preliminary and that the state is ahead of the curve on testing.
After testing showed “forever chemicals” in treated water in more than two dozen water systems, state officials sought to reassure the public.
Matthew Christiansen, the chief health officer, said Wednesday that the state Bureau of Public Health had not issued any advisories related to the PFAS detected in water systems.
“The water you get from your faucet has been and remains one of the safest water sources out there,” he said.
Testing found PFAS in 27 water systems. Of those, 19 had levels above proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limits for PFAS in drinking water.
The Department of Health and Human Resources and the Department of Environmental protection released the data last week.
Christiansen noted that the data are preliminary and that the state is ahead of the curve on testing.
Exposure to PFAS for prolonged periods may have adverse health effects, the EPA has determined.
Of those, 19 water systems have levels that are above at least one of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed regulatory standards according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
Under the direction of DHHR, USGS sampled the finished drinking water of 37 systems previously identified as having certain PFAS compounds in their raw-water (pre-treated water) source, to determine which systems need additional or upgraded treatment.
Courtesy West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resouces and the Department of Environmental Protection.
A chart depicting West Virginia’s finished water testing results for the 19 systems, Public Water System Drinking Water PFAS Study, may be viewed here.
DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health and DEP are working with these 27 systems through a working group formed in March 2023 to evaluate treatment processes and best approaches to removing these compounds from finished water, as well as identify funding options to minimize the burden on customers.
There is currently no regulatory requirement for states or public water systems to conduct sampling. EPA has proposed to regulate certain PFAS compounds, PFOA and PFOS, at a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of four parts per trillion, require public water systems to monitor for certain PFAS compounds, and notify consumers and reduce PFAS levels if they exceed the regulatory standards. EPA expects to finalize this rule by the end of 2023.
West Virginia has been testing finished water to be proactive. The PFAS Protection Act, or House Bill 3189, requires the DEP to identify and address PFAS sources, develop action plans and improve reporting requirements. Senate Concurrent Resolution 46, which passed during the 2020 legislative session, requested DHHR and DEP propose and initiate a public source water supply study plan.
“While a determination of risk for consumers cannot be made based on the preliminary results of this study, this data helps us plan for when final testing is complete and the EPA rules are finalized,” said Dr. Matthew Christiansen, state health officer and commissioner of DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health.
West Virginia will receive $18.9 million in federal funding over two years to address emerging contaminants like PFAS in drinking water. That funding can be used for a wide-range of activities, including research and testing, treatment, source water activities, restructuring, consolidating, or creating water systems, and technical assistance.
“The quick action to form a working group allowed West Virginia water systems and state partners an opportunity to share knowledge and resources at an early stage,” said Dr. Christiansen. “DHHR and DEP will coordinate with impacted communities to administer the federal funding.”
Additional samples of finished drinking water may be collected from sampling points located at the entry point to the distribution system and analyzed for PFAS compounds of concern.
“This information is another vital step forward in our efforts to address this issue,” said DEP Secretary Harold Ward. “The DEP, DHHR, and our local water systems can make more informed decisions and take appropriate next steps to ensure that safe, clean drinking water is accessible to all communities across West Virginia.”
PFAS are chemicals used in thousands of applications throughout the industrial, food, and textile industries and are an ingredient in some firefighting foams, food packaging, cleaning products, and various other household items. They are classified as possible carcinogens and may create other adverse health effects. Exposure to PFAS over a long period of time may lead to negative health effects.
PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” are manmade chemicals used in an array of industrial processes and consumer products. They linger in the environment and pose a risk to human health.
The Washington Works facility discharges industrial process water and stormwater into the Ohio River and its tributaries, according to a 2018 permit it received under the Clean Water Act.
According to the EPA, the amount of PFAS in the water discharged from the facility exceeds the limits allowed by the permit.
Water can be treated to remove PFAS. The EPA’s order requires Chemours to do that, as well as to monitor the discharge water to further understand the presence of PFAS in it.
This is the EPA’s first enforcement action involving PFAS. The Washington Works facility was formerly operated by DuPont.
During his weekly briefing, the Gov. Jim Justice said West Virginia has taken steps to meet federal guidelines to lower PFAS, or forever chemicals, in the state’s water supplies.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week announced a proposal to limit PFAS chemical compounds (PFOA and PFOS) in drinking water to four parts per trillion.
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are present throughout our society and in thousands of products in the industrial, food and textile industries. They’re used in firefighting foams, food packaging, cleaning products, and household items like non-stick cookware.
State Health Officer Dr. Matthew Christiansen said as the health impacts of PFAS have become more apparent, the Public Health Department is working closely with its state and federal partners to monitor the problem.
“Now as we’re learning more about these and the science is becoming more clear, we’re learning that they are possible carcinogens and can create other adverse health impacts with exposure over a long period of time,” he said.
According to Christiansen, the United States Geological Survey has surveyed the raw water for 279 water systems throughout West Virginia. He said 37 of those were identified by the EPA as having levels of PFOA or PFOS in the raw water source.
He said the state has established a working group to provide support to the state’s public water systems.
“At the direction of the governor, the DHHR and the DEP, we have proactively reached out to water systems in West Virginia in preparation of these revised EPA guidelines,” Christiansen said.
The collaboration between the DHHR and DEP is expected to provide a venue for communication about best practices in the state’s mitigation of PFAS and their compounds.
“We believe that these proposed maximum contaminant levels for PFAS are achievable for the majority of our water systems here in West Virginia,” Christian said.
More than $18 million the state received in EPA funding will be used for things like research and testing, treatment, source water control, restructuring or consolidation, and technical assistance.
Under the state’s response efforts to lower PFAS in water supplies, it’s expected that some public water systems will need to install additional mitigation plans to treat PFAS moving forward.
