New York sets drinking water safeguards

ALBANY, N.Y. » Thursday, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) took the final step to establish Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLS) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and 1,4-dioxane, three toxic emerging contaminants found in drinking water across the state.

DOH’S Public Health and Health Planning Council voted to set MCLS at 10 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA, 10 ppt for PFOS, and one part per billion (ppb) for 1,4-dioxane. The regulations will appear in the next State Register, at which time they will be in effect.

The MCLS will require all water systems in New York to test for these harmful chemicals and remove them from drinking water when the MCLS are exceeded. More than 2,000 small water systems, which together serve more than two million New Yorkers, have never been required to test for PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-dioxane.

Clean water organizations emphasized that these MCLS are the first step in protecting drinking water from emerging contaminants. They detailed a suite of policy actions still needed from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration and the State Legislature to ensure that every New Yorker’s water is clean and safe to drink.

“We are glad that Maximum Contaminant Levels are finally in place. These new drinking water protections are the direct result of tireless advocacy by community members who literally have these chemicals in their blood,” Rob Hayes, clean water associate at Environmental Advocates NY said.

“We will continue to urge Governor Cuomo to strengthen these regulations through regular reviews going forward. The science is clear: to protect people from cancer and other health hazards, New York must remove all PFAS

from drinking water. Quick action is needed; it took almost five years for Governor Cuomo’s administration to set these MCLS, and we can’t afford to wait that long for new drinking water standards,” Hayes added.

“I’ve waited for this day for five years. Yes, that’s how long it’s been since I learned my water had been poisoned with PFOA. That’s how long I’ve lived in fear of the PFOA in my blood,” Michele Baker, Hoosick Falls resident and member of the New York Water Project, remarked.

“The people of Hoosick Falls fought for these drinking water protections every step of this process. Because of the persistence of our community, fewer New Yorkers will have to worry about toxins in their water when they turn on the faucet,” Baker continued.

“New York shouldn’t forget about Hoosick Falls, because there’s much more to do. It’s time to regulate all PFAS, not just two of them. It’s time to address contamination of private water wells, not just public water systems. And it’s time for New York to commit to always, always making the protection of human health its first priority,” Baker added.

“NYPIRG is pleased that the long awaited MCLS for PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-dioxane will soon be in place.

The communities that have been harmed by these chemicals have fought for years for drinking water standards - thanks to their tireless advocacy, that first battle has finally been won. Now there will be a clear path forward to clean and treat the drinking water serving millions of New Yorkers that has already been contaminated by these chemicals. But New York cannot allow mistakes of the past to be repeated. We urge Governor Cuomo and the Department of Health to ensure these MCLS keep up with the latest health science and are reviewed regularly moving forward,” Liz Moran, environmental policy director for NYPIRG, added.