Strict New Limits On Water Chemicals Announced: See FL Impacts

FLORIDA — In an extraordinary move Wednesday, the federal government imposed strict new limits on “forever chemicals” in public water systems, a costly undertaking for Florida's local water utilities that many say will ultimately fall on the backs of taxpayers.

The Environmental Protection Agency mandate requires that the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, known collectively as PFAS, be reduced to near-zero levels. The rule is the first national drinking water limit on toxic PFAS, which are widespread, long-lasting in the environment and have been linked to cancer and a host of other health problems.

They’re ubiquitous, found in everything from food packaging and cookware to dental floss and other personal care items to children’s toys and firefighting foams.

At least 45 percent of U.S. water systems have one or more types of PFAS chemicals, according to a 2023 study by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Some of the sites of PFAS contamination shown in the study are:

• Florida Superior Plating, St. Petersburg
• 118th Avenue Landfill, Pinellas Park
• Kenbar Plating, Largo
• Satellite Archery, Port Richey
• Musselman Steel Corp., Tampa
• Tampa Fire Rescue Training Center

Locations in the Tampa Bay area where PFAS contamination has been detected in the water supply include:

• MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa
• Hillsborough Community College451, Tampa
• Englewood Fire Training Center452
• City of Zephyrhills
• Pasco County Fire Rescue Training Center447, Shady Hills

Across Florida, forever chemicals were found at about 40 sites, including many "military sites" by the U.S. Geological Survey. Here's a sampling:

• Pensacola, Florida (Naval Air Station Pensacola & Emerald Coast Utilities Authority)
• Milton, Florida (Naval Air Station Whiting Field)
• Okaloosa County, Florida (Hurlburt Field Air Force Base)
• Homestead Air Force Base
• Eglin, Florida
• Tyndall, Florida (Tyndall Air Force Base)
• Naval Air Station Jacksonville
• Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Jacksonville
• Jacksonville International Airport
• Camp Blanding
• Florida State Fire College196, Ocala
• Pasco County Fire Rescue Training Center447
• Avon Park Air Force Range
• South Florida State College446, Avon Park
• Melbourne fire training
• Patrick, Florida (Patrick Air Force Base)
• Cape Canaveral, Florida
• Brevard County, Florida
• Fort Pierce, Florida
• City of Stuart, Florida
• Bonita Springs, Florida
• City of Lauderhill, Florida
• Miramar, Florida
• City of Miami Beach, Florida
• Miami International Airport
• Miami-Dade County, Florida (Homestead AFB, Miami Dade Water and Sewer Authority)
• Marathon, Florida (FKAA J. Robert Dean Water Treatment Plant)

Health advocates praised the Environmental Protection Agency for not backing away from tough limits the agency proposed last year. But water utilities took issue with the rule, saying treatment systems are expensive to install and that customers will end up paying more for water.

Water providers are entering a new era with significant additional health standards that the EPA says will make tap water safer for millions of consumers — a Biden administration priority. The agency has also proposed forcing utilities to remove dangerous lead pipes.

Utility groups warn the rules will cost tens of billions of dollars each and fall hardest on small communities with fewer resources. Legal challenges are sure to follow.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan says the rule is the most important action the EPA has ever taken on PFAS.

“The result is a comprehensive and life-changing rule, one that will improve the health and vitality of so many communities across our country,” Regan said.

Environmental and health advocates praised the rule, but said PFAS manufacturers knew decades ago the substances were dangerous yet hid or downplayed the evidence. Limits should have come sooner, they argue.

"Reducing PFAS in our drinking water is the most cost effective way to reduce our exposure," said Scott Faber, a food and water expert at Environmental Working Group. "It's much more challenging to reduce other exposures such as PFAS in food or clothing or carpets."

Over the last year, EPA has periodically released batches of utility test results for PFAS in drinking water. Roughly 16 percent of utilities found at least one of the two strictly limited PFAS chemicals at or above the new limits. These utilities serve tens of millions of people. The Biden administration, however, expects about 6 percent to 10 percent of water systems to exceed the new limits.

Water providers will generally have three years to do testing. If those tests exceed the limits, they'll have two more years to install treatment systems, according to EPA officials.

Some funds are available to help utilities. Manufacturer 3M recently agreed to pay more than $10 billion to drinking water providers to settle PFAS litigation. And the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes billions to combat the substance. But utilities say more will be needed.

The EPA has dramatically shifted its health guidance for forever chemicals in recent years as more research into its health harms has emerged. Less than a decade ago, the EPA issued a health advisory that PFOA and PFOS levels combined shouldn't exceed 70 parts per trillion. Now, the agency says no amount is safe.

Public alarm has increased, too.

In Minnesota, for example, Amara's Law aims to stop avoidable PFAS use. It's been nearly a year since the law's namesake, Amara Strande, died from a rare cancer her family blames on PFAS contamination by 3M near her high school in Oakdale, although a connection between PFAS and her cancer can't be proven.

Losing Amara pushed the family toward activism. They've testified multiple times in favor of PFAS restrictions.

“Four parts per trillion, we couldn't ask for a better standard,” Amara's sister Nora said. “It’s a very ambitious goal, but anything higher than that is endangering lives.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting.