Nevada joins federal EPA to reduce forever chemicals in water

CARSON CITY, Nev. (KOLO) -As the federal government this week announced new drinking water standards to protect communities from the so-called forever chemicals, the state of Nevada on Friday announced plans to work with communities to set drinking water standards and fix pollution problems.

The goal is to limit exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances better known as PFAS. They are manmade chemicals used in consumer and industrial products for decades.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule seeks to:

• Sett enforceable drinking water standards for PFAS in public water systems.
• Require public water systems to tell consumers of PFAS contamination above certain levels and to take corrective actions.
• Dedicate money to assist water systems with PFAS mitigation and treatment.

“EPA’s action to regulate PFAS compounds in drinking water aligns with our ongoing efforts to address PFAS contamination in Nevada,” Nevada Division of Environmental Protection Administrator Jennifer Carr said in a statement. “EPA’s final rule represents a significant advancement in safeguarding public health and the environment from the potential harms associated with PFAS exposure. While this rule is in the early stages of implementation, NDEP will continue to use existing federal grants for PFAS sampling and collaborate with stakeholders while continuing to work toward protecting and improving Nevada’s water resources.”

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