Addressing the Issue of Perpetual Pollutants in Potable Water Supplies
Sustainability's biggest challenge lies in handling and eliminating "forever chemicals," like polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a widely used compound that contaminates water supplies and leads to various health issues. In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced new regulations for managing six PFAS in drinking water. These regulations mandate public water systems to conduct initial monitoring for PFAS by 2027.
However, the issue of contaminated water persists, with the current administration having new priorities. Historically, states have taken the lead in regulating emerging contaminants like PFAS, but a patchwork regulatory approach can lead to communication and confusion issues, as what is considered "safe" in one state might be deemed "unsafe" in another.
According to Megan Glover, the CEO of water quality platform 120Water, only a few prevalent PFA compounds are currently being regulated. Glover revealed that pervasive PFA compounds are present in about 45% of tap water in the U.S., making it the most prevalent contaminant tackled in the country. She pointed out that while technologies to remediate and solve this problem exist, funding is needed to execute it successfully.
She mentioned that technologies such as reverse osmosis, activated carbon filters, and nanofiltration can help with PFAS removal from drinking water. However, she emphasized that this is not a one-size-fits-all issue, and the best available technology depends on various factors like the water source and system cost.
Last month, carbon water purification company Calgon Carbon announced a nine-year exclusive agreement with American Water to provide advanced PFAS treatment solutions at more than 50 American Water facilities across ten states. Calgon Carbon's senior vice president of drinking water solutions, Jenalle Brewer, acknowledged that activated carbon is a sustainable solution for treating PFAS in drinking water.
She highlighted that PFAS have been found in drinking water in areas with heavy manufacturing, such as New Jersey and North Carolina. Brewer noted that while PFAS are persistent and pervasive, treatment technologies are available to destroy them. Calgon Carbon, which has been dealing with PFAS remediation for over 15 years, uses activated carbon made from bituminous coal to remove PFAS from local drinking supplies.
However, the problem doesn't stop at drinking water. New research by climate tech company FabricNano discovered that 'forever chemicals' might be shedding from common garments during domestic laundry cycles. According to the research, Bisphenol-A (BPA) was found at up to 25 times the recommended exposure levels in laundry wash water after test cycles with clothing treated with, and without detergent. Grant Aarons, the Fabric Nano CEO, stated that around 30% of all microplastic pollution starts in the washing machine.
He explained that clothing fibers break off in the wash, and if they contain microplastics and chemicals, they also break off, floating around in the water before reattaching themselves to any surface they can find. This means clothes could be releasing chemicals like BPA into the water and onto our skin, making it difficult to combat or even detect without awareness. Aarons emphasized the need for better solutions for consumers to protect themselves from toxicity touching their skin.
Despite the EPA's new regulations for managing PFAS in drinking water, pervasive forms of these 'forever chemicals' continue to contaminate about 45% of tap water in the U.S. (Glover).Furthermore, research suggests that 'forever chemicals' like BPA may be shedding from common garments during laundry cycles, potentially contaminating washing water and increasing exposure through skin contact. (Aarons)
