March 2023 Member Meeting Presentations
Presentation from the March 2023 Quarterly Member Meeting. Downloadable PDF files with links. Continue reading March 2023 Member Meeting Presentations
Category: Partners
2023 EPA Proposal to Regulate PFAS in
Drinking Water
What did EPA announce?
On March 14, 2023, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule for
regulating six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Over the next year, the
proposed rule will undergo an extensive public review and comment process. The final regulation may
differ from the proposal.
EPA proposed maximum contamination levels (MCLs) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for perfluorooctane
sulfonate (PFOS) and four parts per trillion (ppt) perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Continue reading 2023 EPA Proposal to Regulate PFAS in
Drinking Water
Whidbey ‘serial volunteer’ wins stewardship award
An avid volunteer involved in countless projects around Puget Sound recently claimed the 2023 Jan Holmes award.
South Whidbey resident John Lovie is this year’s recipient of the annual award, which is named in memory of Jan Holmes, a marine scientist, educator and champion for stewardship of the marine environment who passed away in 2011.
The Island County Marine Resources Committee, Sound Water Stewards and Washington State University Extension presented Lovie with the award a few days ahead of Sound Waters University, which is when the winner of the award is usually announced.
Continue reading Whidbey ‘serial volunteer’ wins stewardship award
Sea-Tac’s legacy of PFAS chemicals: ‘foam showers,’ sick firefighters and contaminated water
SEATAC — In the 1980s, rookie firefighters at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport endured a hazing ritual known as the “foam shower.”
Recruits stood some 150 feet down the tarmac with 5-gallon buckets and were told to catch firefighting foam shot out of a crash-response truck’s water cannon.
They would wear the usual helmet and heat-resistant gear, but still ended up drenched as the bubbly white liquid rained down on them. Continue reading Sea-Tac’s legacy of PFAS chemicals: ‘foam showers,’ sick firefighters and contaminated water
Free Washington Drinking Water Workshops
The calendar offers multiple ways to find the training you’re looking for. In addition to a chronological list of trainings, the calendar and filters let you refine your search by day, week, month, year and event category. Continue reading Free Washington Drinking Water Workshops
“Forever Chemicals” in Groundwater
Presented to Evergreen Rural Water of Washington’s Annual Conference, Feb 15, 2023. Continue reading “Forever Chemicals” in Groundwater
FROM THE TAP ISLAND COUNTY 2023
Who you gonna call?
Our friends at Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water have made a flyer just for Island County! It has a wealth of information about Island County drinking water systems and contact information for all the people you need to know at County and State. Continue reading FROM THE TAP ISLAND COUNTY 2023
WIWSA “Virtual Booth” at Sound Waters University 2023
Exhibitors & Sponsors – Sound Water Stewards of Island County, WA WIWSA once again sponsored Sound Waters University 2023 and is displaying a virtual booth. The booth contains our new brochure. Continue reading WIWSA “Virtual Booth” at Sound Waters University 2023
EPA Takes Key Step to Stop Unsafe PFAS from Reentering Commerce
Proposed rule would prevent companies from starting or resuming the manufacture, processing or use of an estimated 300 substances. EPA Takes Key Step to Stop Unsafe PFAS from Reentering Commerce | NRWA WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency … Continue reading EPA Takes Key Step to Stop Unsafe PFAS from Reentering Commerce
DRAFT Guidance for Investigating and
Remediating PFAS Contamination in
Washington State
You’re invited to review and comment on our draft cleanup guidance for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination and cleanup.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are collectively known as PFAS. This group comprises thousands of unique synthetic organic chemicals that are extremely stable and persistent. Continue reading DRAFT Guidance for Investigating and
Remediating PFAS Contamination in
Washington State
Focus on: PFAS Cleanup Levels
Focus on: PFAS cleanup levels (wa.gov) This focus sheet provides the Washington StateDepartment of Ecology’s (Ecology’s) recommendedsoil and groundwater cleanup levels for part of agroup of harmful compounds known as per- andpolyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. Continue reading Focus on: PFAS Cleanup Levels
Skipped showers, paper plates: An Arizona suburb’s water is cut off
RIO VERDE, Ariz. — Joe McCue thought he had found a desert paradise when he bought one of the new stucco houses sprouting in the granite foothills of Rio Verde, Arizona. There were good schools, mountain views and cactus-spangled hiking trails out the back door.
Then the water got cut off. Continue reading Skipped showers, paper plates: An Arizona suburb’s water is cut off
New Bay Area maps show hidden flood risk from sea level rise and groundwater
Amid dramatic ocean swells and drenching atmospheric rivers, a new report lays bare a hidden aspect of sea level rise that has been exacerbating flooding in the Bay Area.
The report, which was released Tuesday, maps areas that could flood from groundwater hovering just a few feet, or even inches below ground. This layer of water gets pushed upward as denser water from the ocean moves inland from rising tides. On its way up, even before the water breaks the surface, it can seep into the cracks of basements, infiltrate plumbing, or, even more insidiously, re-mobilize toxic chemicals buried underground. Continue reading New Bay Area maps show hidden flood risk from sea level rise and groundwater
U.S. military takes important step towards PFAS-free firefighting foams
New rule comes after years of PFAS contamination of water supplies for millions of Americans
Health advocates praise this move while calling for transparency and requirements for the safety of new foams
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) released a revised military specification (“mil spec”) for the purchase and use of firefighting foam free of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Revisions to the mil spec were required by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The new rule comes after years of PFAS contamination of water supplies for millions of Americans.
This new specification also impacts airports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was directed by Congress to allow airports to use fluorine-free foams by October 2021 and issued a new alert today. Continue reading U.S. military takes important step towards PFAS-free firefighting foams
EPA Adds Nine Additional PFAS to Toxics Release Inventory List
EPA Adds Nine Additional PFAS to Toxics Release Inventory List | NRWA WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the automatic addition of nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list. … Continue reading EPA Adds Nine Additional PFAS to Toxics Release Inventory List