December 6, 2018
Over the past several years, more than ten PFAS chemicals have regularly been detected in CFPUA’s raw and finished water. While PFAS contamination in drinking water is a national problem, the EPA has now released a draft toxicity assessment for two PFAS specifically found in the Cape Fear River—GenX and PFBS.
CFPUA welcomes this draft toxicity assessment. As the nation’s leading regulator of the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA should continue to conduct risk assessments for all known PFAS compounds and use that information to create an effective PFAS regulatory framework that is protective of public health and the environment.
The EPA Draft Toxicity Assessment is open for public comment until January 21, 2019.
Other Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Newsflashes on GenX toxicity levels and other issues can be accessed here.
…
December 6, 2018
CFPUA Public Comment on EPA Draft Toxicity Assessment for GenX and PFBS
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) is a water and wastewater provider in Southeastern North Carolina, serving approximately 200,000 people across parts of New Hanover County. We operate three drinking water systems—the largest of which uses the Cape Fear River as its source water. Over the past several years, more than ten different PFAS chemicals have regularly been detected in our raw and finished water, including the compounds GenX and PFBS. As research continues, scientists at universities across the state are identifying additional contaminants.
CFPUA is pleased to see that EPA has started to assess the risks that GenX and other PFAS may pose to human health and the environment. The Cape Fear River is central to the economy of Southeastern North Carolina, acting as the origin of much of our drinking water, recreation, tourism and industrial activities. A full understanding of the ways these chemicals operate in our bodies, and in the environment, is critical to ensuring an effective response is put into place.
Unfortunately, this risk assessment process did not occur before these compounds were released to the environment. As a result, our community will continue to be exposed to a variety of PFAS chemicals in its drinking water while we wait for a risk assessment process that may take years.
Read CFPUA Submits Formal Comment on EPA Draft Toxicity Assessment for GenX, PFBS.