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Welcome!
Welcome to Whidbey Island Water Systems Association, a resource for all who drink water on Whidbey Island! Our members are Municipal, Group A, and Group B water systems, private well owners, and the operators, engineers, and others who serve those water systems. Our quarterly member meeting are currently held via Zoom. The meeting invitation will be sent via our email list only. You must be a subscriber to the email list to receive the invitation email. Click here to subscribe! Continue reading Welcome!
Water on Whidbey June, 2023
Written comment to the Washington State Environmental Justice Council meeting, May 24th.
Submitted by John Lovie, Whidbey Island Water Systems Association. I would like to highlight rural Washingtonians’ lack of access to safe drinking water as an Environmental Health Disparity and an environmental justice concern. As the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act celebrate their 50th anniversaries, they are failing rural Americans. The Safe Drinking Water Act web page states that “Over 92 percent of the population supplied by community water systems receives drinking water that meets all health-based standards all of the time.” That excludes the 13% of Americans served by private wells or Group B water systems. In … Continue reading Written comment to the Washington State Environmental Justice Council meeting, May 24th.
Lawsuit week for PFAS
The past week saw two new lawsuits naming manufacturers of “Forever Chemicals” (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS) from the State Attorney Generals’ offices of Pennsylvania and Washington, and a settlement in the South Carolina aqueous film-forming foam multi-district litigation (AFFF MDL), where the trial was due to start today. Stock prices in the companies affected rebounded sharply Friday June 2nd. Continue reading Lawsuit week for PFAS
Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva Reach Comprehensive PFAS Settlement with U.S. Water Systems
The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC), DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (NYSE: DD) and Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) (the “companies”) today announced they have reached an agreement in principle to comprehensively resolve all PFAS-related drinking water claims of a defined class of public water systems that serve the vast majority of the United States population.
The class includes water systems with a current detection of PFAS1 at any level and those that are currently required to monitor for the presence of PFAS under EPA monitoring rules2 or other applicable laws. This includes but is not limited to systems in the South Carolina aqueous film-forming foam multi-district litigation (“AFFF MDL”). Continue reading Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva Reach Comprehensive PFAS Settlement with U.S. Water Systems
Arizona limits new construction in Phoenix area, citing shrinking water supply
Arizona has determined that there is not enough groundwater for all of the future housing construction that has already been approved in the Phoenix area, and will stop developers from building some new subdivisions, a sign of looming trouble in the West and other places where overuse, drought and climate change are straining water supplies.
The decision by state officials marks the beginning of the end to the explosive development that has made the Phoenix metropolitan region the fastest growing in the country. Continue reading Arizona limits new construction in Phoenix area, citing shrinking water supply
WA family filters water to keep out PFAS. Where do dirty filters go?
Jenna Vogel and her husband moved to East Selah, Yakima County, in fall 2021. Days after settling in, the Yakima Training Center shared a news release informing residents that a dozen homes in the area had concentrations of forever chemicals in their water that exceeded federal drinking water standards. Their house was among those affected. Continue reading WA family filters water to keep out PFAS. Where do dirty filters go?
WA AG sues PFAS manufacturers, seeks money for cleanup of drinking water
By Isabella Breda and Manuel Villa
Seattle Times staff reporters
The state attorney general’s office has filed a lawsuit against nearly two dozen manufacturers of so-called “forever chemicals,” asserting the companies knew about their risks to the environment and humans for decades but lied and kept that knowledge hidden from the government and public to protect their businesses. Continue reading WA AG sues PFAS manufacturers, seeks money for cleanup of drinking water
AG Ferguson files lawsuit against 20 manufacturers of “forever chemicals”
SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced an environmental lawsuit today against numerous manufacturers of PFAS, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.” The lawsuit asserts these companies knew for decades about the serious risks these chemicals posed to humans and the environment. The companies likely made many millions in profit while actively deceiving the public. Continue reading AG Ferguson files lawsuit against 20 manufacturers of “forever chemicals”
Legal Action Required in Response to Kidde Fenwal Bankruptcy
https://mailchi.mp/8de6ba40a1a0/nrwas-rural-water-wire-for-3046664?e=b780b0ee8b DUNCAN, Okla. — Kidde Fenwal, a well-known manufacturer of fire protection and suppression systems, has recently filed for bankruptcy.Kidde Fenwal has been associated with the use and disposal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), resulting in significant contamination to water supplies across the U.S. The potential liability and cost to clean up PFAS contamination will be substantial. Many water systems may have a legitimate claim against Kidde Fenwal for contributing to this situation. Continue reading Legal Action Required in Response to Kidde Fenwal Bankruptcy
Can I buy bottled water with food stamps?
As the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act celebrate their 50th anniversaries, they are failing rural Americans. Continue reading Can I buy bottled water with food stamps?