April 11, 2024
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established national limits for six types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in drinking water. The substances, known by the initials PFAS, are nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they barely degrade, are very heat resistant, and are nearly impossible to destroy, so they can linger for very long periods in air, water and soil.
The Borough of Stone Harbor has been testing for these chemicals well in advance of the new regulation and to date, no PFAS has been detected in Stone Harbor’s water supply. The Borough will continue to monitor for these chemicals on a routine basis, however, we are confident that our water supply is safe and free of these forever chemicals. The EPA estimates that between only 6% and 10% of the drinking water systems will be affected by this regulation.
The class of chemicals includes over 14,000 man-made chemicals that have been in use for 70+ years. Exposure to PFAS have been associated with a higher risk of certain cancers, heart disease, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, low birth weight and reproductive issues, including decreased fertility. According to a US Department of Health and Human Service study, almost every American has some level of PFAS in their blood already.
