Success: Drinking Water To Be Protected From Hazardous Forever Chemicals

Target: Michael Regan, Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency

Goal: Support strict monitoring of drinking water for presence of forever chemicals.

Forever chemicals, formally known as PFAS, are industrial toxins implicated in a broad range of health conditions, from asthma to cancer. This ForceChange petition brought attention to the troubling presence of these non-degradable substances in America’s drinking water supply. Previously, only a handful of states were monitoring water systems for PFAS. Now, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to take this important public health initiative national.

The EPA announced a proposal that would require all water monitoring entities in the nation to survey supplies for six prominent forever chemicals, including the most dangerous: Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and Perfluorooctanoic acid. If any trace of the aforementioned substances is detected, the water would have to undergo rigorous treatment before reaching consumers. The new rules, when implemented after a 60-day public comment period, would affect up to 200 million Americans. Benefits would be particularly pronounced in lower-income communities where water quality is the most deteriorated.

Sign the petition below to laud this long-overdue win for environmental and public health.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Administrator Regan,

You have previously referred to forever chemicals as “an urgent public health crisis,” and thousands—if not millions—of cases around the country bear out this assertion. The EPA’s recent report detailing the widespread presence of these substances in U.S. drinking water supplies was alarming. Thank you for taking this information and turning it into decisive and meaningful action.

The PFAS limits proposed by the EPA will help set a higher standard for water quality that leaves no state or community behind. Hundreds of millions of lives will be bettered because of this essential progress for public health nationwide.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Nabi Sohrabli