New DEC Water Treatment Regulations Could Hinder Towns

By Mary A. Crisafulli

CATSKILLS - To combat PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pollution, the Biden-Harris administration issued a drinking water standard on April 10 to reduce human exposure. The legislation is the first-ever nationally legally enforceable drinking water standard.

For background, PFAS includes several thousands of various chemicals used during the manufacturing process of various commodities. Since its invention in the 1930s, the use of PFAS has grown astronomically making it nearly unavoidable for your average consumer. Products that contain PFAS include water-resistant clothing, adhesives, furniture, paint, food packaging, wire insulation, pesticides, and non-stick or heat-resistant cookware. PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" due to their nearly indestructible nature, understood to last thousands of years before breaking down. Studies in the 70s proved PFAS chemicals could build up in the bloodstream leading to cancer among other health issues.

Since they are used in manufacturing, water from such facilities is sent to the local waste water treatment plants contaminated with PFAS. Water is treated according to state-set regulations and sent back into the community as safe drinkable water. The current maximum contamination level of PFAS in New York is 10 parts per trillion.

In 2021, the EPA (Federal Environmental Protection Agency) issued its PFAS Strategic Roadmap to address PFAS contamination. In support of this initiative, the Biden-Harris administration set an enforceable maximum contaminant level of PFAS at 4.0 parts per trillion. According to the EPA, roughly six to ten percent of public drinking water systems will need to take action to reduce PFAS to comply with the new standard. Public water systems must comply by 2029.

At a Delaware County Coalition of Watershed Towns (CWT) board meeting CWT Vice Chairperson and Hunter Councilmember David Kukle said the initial testing costs would cost roughly $8,250. What is worrisome, he continued, is the costs accrued if PFAS levels are determined to be high.

CWT Attorney Jeff Baker said the treatment control costs of PFAS would be enormous. He added that the best way to regulate the contaminants is to stop them at the source. He noted that PFAS comes from manufacturing of goods which are then sent to the treatment plants.

Kukle asked Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) Executive Director Jason Merwin if there was a way CWC could help towns.

"We are always willing to help where we can," said Merwin. The best chance of developing support programs through CWC is finding a way for the initiative to benefit both the local community and New York City, he explained. There are a lot of variables that need to be taken into account, he said, but it is worth looking into.

The EPA announced roughly $1 billion in funding is available to assist states in the implementation of PFAS treatment and testing of public water systems as well as private wells. It is still unclear how much funding New York will be awarded.