Bill on Thresholds for Chemicals in Drinking Water Advances
(AP) — The state Senate approved legislation on May 20 directing Delaware health and environmental officials to establish maximum contaminant levels in drinking water for certain manmade chemical compounds that have been associated with cancer and other health problems.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously and now goes back to House. House lawmakers voted unanimously for the measure last month but must approve a Senate amendment that removed certain language.
The measure directs state agencies to set maximum allowable levels for fluorinated chemicals known as PFOA and PFOS in public drinking water supplies and to conduct a statewide survey of other fluorinated compounds in drinking water.
PFOA and PFOS have been found in public and private water supply wells in all three counties, most notably in an area surrounding the New Castle County Airport. The chemicals have been used for decades in a wide variety of manufacturing and industrial operations and consumer products, including outdoor and protective clothing, food packaging, carpet and nonstick cookware. PFOS has been an ingredient in firefighting foams commonly used at airports and military installations, such as the New Castle County Airport, the adjacent Delaware Air National Guard installation and Dover Air Force Base.
PFOA and PFOS are only two of hundreds of synthetic chemicals known as PFAS, which have been associated with health effects including high cholesterol levels, thyroid disease, certain cancers and pregnancy-related problems. They often are referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not easily degrade and can remain in the body for years, even decades.
While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken initial steps to begin regulating PFOA and PFOS in drinking water, some states are not waiting. A handful have already set their own maximum contaminant levels for the two compounds.
The Delaware bill calls for officials to hold public hearings on the proposed regulations within nine months of the effective date of the legislation if it’s signed into law.
Related News
From Archive
- OSHA issues 16 citations following fatal sewer confined space incident
- 27 pipeline safety violations tied to deadly Pa. chocolate factory explosion
- Contractor gas line strike triggers home explosion in Missouri
- LA recovery reports call for $650 million power line burial, major utility upgrades in Pacific Palisades
- Comprehensive microtrenching FAQ: Key insights on the Vermeer MTR516 microtrencher
- T-Mobile to expand fiber broadband infrastructure footprint with $4.9 billion Metronet acquisition
- First tunnel boring machines complete testing for Hudson Tunnel Project
- NWPX grows water infrastructure portfolio with Colorado precast facility
- Cityside launches $100 million fiber build in Corona, Calif.
- FiberLight to build 1,400-mile West Texas dark fiber network in $350 million expansion
Comments