Do You Think About Your Drinking Water?

Access to clean drinking water is fundamental to the health and well-being of every community, whether in large cities, small towns, tribal lands, or rural areas, but there’s a good chance that many of us have never really given it a second thought. Safe water is essential not only for your day-to-day routines, but also for public health, sanitation, and the overall economic vitality of communities, but what happens when you can’t count on what’s coming out of the tap?

Unfortunately, many American water systems are threatened by aging infrastructure and chemical contamination, and a disproportionate number of those facing conditions that make their drinking water unsafe are in historically marginalized communities. Fixing these problems can be complex and expensive, and navigating the federal rules and resources can be overwhelming. In today’s issue of The SCAffold, we highlight some of the main contributors of water contamination as well as what’s being done to address them.

Lead Pipes

Once commonly used in water distribution systems, lead pipes pose a significant threat to water quality. In fact, EPA estimates that up to 9 million homes are served through legacy lead pipes across the country, many of which are located in lower-income communities and communities of color, creating a disproportionate lead exposure burden for these families. When lead pipes corrode, lead can leach into the water supply, causing dangerous levels of contamination. Exposure to lead has been found to be especially harmful to children, leading to developmental delays, learning difficulties, and long-term health problems. The well-publicized plight of the residents in Flint, Michigan brought national attention to this issue, but unfortunately many other communities are still relying on outdated lead infrastructure; some might not even be aware of lead pipes in their service lines, and still others are caught up in the process of identifying and securing funding to begin the work of addressing the problem.

PFAS, the “Forever Chemicals”

Another serious contaminant in water supplies getting a lot of attention right now comes from a suite of chemicals known as emerging contaminants. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a group of synthetic chemicals known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily. These toxic chemicals have been linked to cancer, liver damage, immune system dysfunction, and other health issues. PFAS contamination has been detected in water sources across the country, affecting both large urban areas and smaller, rural, and tribal communities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) are helping local, territorial, tribal, state, and federal partners address human exposure to PFAS.

According to the EPA, PFAS have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. There are many different types of PFAS, however the two used most widely and studied in the PFAS group are Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS). PFAS can be found in our water, air, soil, and food, as well as in materials found in our homes and workplaces, including drinking water, soil and water at or near waste sites, fire extinguishing foam, manufacturing or chemical production facilities that produce or use PFAS, food (i.e., fish caught from water contaminated with PFAS and dairy or livestock exposed to PFAS), food packaging, household products and dust, personal care products, and biosolids.

Surveys and studies conducted by the CDC show that most people in the United States have been exposed to some level of PFAS. Most known exposures are relatively low, but some can be high if exposed to a concentrated source over a long period of time. Studies by the CDC have found exposure to PFAS can come from working in occupations such as firefighting or chemical manufacturing or processing, drinking water contaminated by PFAS, eating foods that contain PFAS to include fish, swallowing contaminated dust, breathing air contaminated with PFAS, and using products made with PFAS or packaged in PFAS contaminated materials.

Current scientific research conducted by the CDC/ATSDR, academia, and industry, as well as peer-reviewed studies suggest that exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes including reproductive effects, development effects or delays in children, increased risk of some cancers, immune system dysfunction, and other health issues. However, pinpointing the health effects associated with exposure to PFAS can be difficult and more study and research is needed.

What is being done?

The federal government recently released several new rules addressing lead pipes and emerging contaminants, and the EPA issued a final rule just this month requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) also require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold for communities to take action on lead in drinking water to protect people from lead exposure. Alongside the LCRI, EPA is announcing over $116 million in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support lead pipe replacement and inventory projects.

The EPA has also been working to establish legally enforceable PFAS levels, called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), for six PFAS in drinking water as well as finalizing health-based, non-enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for these PFAS aimed at reducing the levels of PFAS in drinking water across the United States. In addition, this rule builds upon the actions that many states have taken to monitor and reduce PFAS exposure in drinking water through state specific regulations. Regulated public water systems will have three years (by 2027) to complete their initial monitoring for these chemicals and must include their results in their Annual Water Quality reports to customers beginning in 2027. Systems that detect PFAS above the new standards will have five years (by 2029) to implement solutions that reduce PFAS in their drinking water. Water systems must also notify the public if levels of regulated PFAS exceed these new standards.

The EPA has recognized that PFAS pollution can have a disproportionate impact on small, disadvantaged, and rural communities, and there is federal funding provided specifically for these water systems. The EPA announced it is providing nearly $1 billion for states and territories through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program, which can be used for initial testing and treatment at both public water systems and to help owners of private wells address PFAS contamination.

Finally, EPA’s free Water Technical Assistance program (WaterTA) is ensuring that disadvantaged communities can access this federal funding. The WaterTA supports communities in identifying water challenges; developing plans; building technical, managerial, and financial capacity; and developing application materials to access water infrastructure funding. The EPA will collaborate with states, tribes, territories, community partners, and other key stakeholders to implement WaterTA efforts, resulting in more communities with applications for federal funding, quality water infrastructure, and reliable water services.

SC&A is proud to be one of the trusted partners in supporting these efforts. We believe that empowering underserved communities to participate in the planning and execution of clean water projects is key to addressing these issues, and the ultimate goal of these projects should always be to build capacity.

Working together with federal organizations like the EPA, subject matter experts and engineers, and community and tribal leaders will be essential in creating a meaningful change in the accessibility of safe drinking water for every single person in this country. Ensuring access to clean drinking water is essential to achieving both public health and social equity. Clean water is a basic human right, and every community – large, small, tribal, rural – deserves access to safe drinking water.

Article contributor Freeman Holifield, Jr., CIH, CSP, REM, PMP is one of SC&A's experienced program managers working to support EPA in identifying and addressing water challenges for communities around the nation. Freeman holds a master's degree in environmental engineering and hazardous & waste materials management and has over 30 years of experience in various roles addressing industrial hygiene, environmental compliance and restoration, health risk assessment, and crisis management, among others.

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