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: Resources
About that Toilet Paper
A new study published this week was showed that toilet paper is a major contributor to PFAS in wastewater.
Rural Washington State relies heavily on septic systems for sewage treatment and on ground water wells for drinking water. In voluntary testing of public water systems in Washington State, PFAS compounds have been detected in about 10% of them. Could PFAS from our toilet paper be showing up in our drinking water? Continue reading About that Toilet Paper
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
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
“Forever Chemicals” in Groundwater
Presented to Evergreen Rural Water of Washington’s Annual Conference, Feb 15, 2023. Continue reading “Forever Chemicals” in Groundwater
‘I don’t want to live like this anymore’: East Selah families still fighting for access to clean water amid PFAS well contamination
EAST SELAH, Wash. — East Selah resident Brandi Hyatt has been unable to use the water in her home near the Yakima Training Center for a year due to high levels of a group of dangerous “forever chemicals” called PFAS, found in their wells.
Her family has been living off of bottled water for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth and washing hands and has been showering at the local YMCA, concerned about the toxic effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on human health.
“It’s stressful. It’s less than ideal,” Hyatt said. “I don’t want to live like this anymore.” Continue reading ‘I don’t want to live like this anymore’: East Selah families still fighting for access to clean water amid PFAS well contamination
Local and state officials hear from Selah residents affected by drinking water contamination
Selah residents affected by the groundwater contamination near the Yakima Training Center spent Thursday night speaking with local and state health and environmental officials about their concerns over the U.S. Army’s handling of cleanup efforts. Continue reading Local and state officials hear from Selah residents affected by drinking water contamination
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
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
Locally caught freshwater fish across the United States are likely a significant source of exposure to PFOS and other perfluorinated compounds
Locally caught freshwater fish across the United States are likely a significant source of exposure to PFOS and other perfluorinated compounds – ScienceDirect Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, gained significant public and regulatory attention due to widespread contamination … Continue reading Locally caught freshwater fish across the United States are likely a significant source of exposure to PFOS and other perfluorinated compounds
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
EPA Releases New PFAS Analytic Tools
EPA Releases New PFAS Analytic Tools | NRWA Interactive webpage provides information on PFAS sources across the U.S. Jan 5, 2023 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a new interactive webpage, called the “PFAS Analytic … Continue reading EPA Releases New PFAS Analytic Tools
2023 PFAS Cost Recovery Update
2023 PFAS Cost Recovery Update | NRWA More information on a PFAS lawsuit Continue reading 2023 PFAS Cost Recovery Update