At an agency-sponsored conference August 28-30 in northern Kentucky, officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set a goal of reducing by one-quarter the number of drinking water systems that violate health standards by 2020. The agency is using 3600 systems in violation in 2017 as a baseline, according to the press office.
Officials also announced that the agency will publish a plan later this year to help states and utilities deal with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water sources.
Members of NGWA are uniquely qualified to play a role in addressing PFAS challenges. Many are working daily on PFAS-related issues, and NGWA’s Groundwater and PFAS: State of Knowledge and Practice, published last year, is one of the most comprehensive tools available on the topic. The text was crafted by 36 NGWA volunteers.
NGWA recently held a two-day, sold-out workshop on PFAS, August 14-15 in St. Paul, Minnesota. For those who missed the workshop, a one-day version will take place December 6 during Groundwater Week 2018 in Las Vegas.
NGWA also has an online resource center on PFAS, which includes:
- A PFAS FAQs sheet
- Top 10 facts about PFAS
- NGWA’s involvement in PFAS at the federal level
- A homeowner checklist
- A list of EPA community events.
Visit the
NGWA PFAS Resource Center.