Two national utility trade groups representing many of Long Island’s water providers filed a new federal lawsuit this week seeking to overturn the limits established on toxic “forever chemicals” by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last April.
The new restrictions had set maximum contaminant levels for six groups of PFAs — known by critics as “forever chemicals” — with two of the most common limited to 4 parts per trillion — basically one drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized pools.
This lawsuit is now merged with another case brought by multiple chemical and manufacturing companies which are also seeking to rescind the EPA’s Biden-era guidelines.
Both groups argue that the EPA didn’t follow proper procedures in determining the limits and the rules will cost companies nationwide billions of dollars per-year to meet the new standards.
“This could set a dangerous precedent for future contaminants or anything else that the EPA wanted to do,” argued Jeff Szabo, the CEO of the Suffolk County Water Authority.
“The EPA did not follow the proper process,” proclaimed Szabo, who is also President of the National Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies.
PFAs, or Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, are over 14,000 chemicals used in products like nonstick cookware and food containers.
Also known as “forever chemicals” due to their inability to break down, PFAs have been detected in most of Long Island’s drinking water, according to multiple independent studies and officials.
According to experts, these chemicals seep into underground water aquafers and are linked to serious health issues such as cancer, organ damage and infertility when consumed.
Pro-business advocates argue that this deregulation would create more competition and spur economic growth, but some local leaders don’t want to roll back standards.
Among those opposed to the suit include Nassau Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, who held a water quality town hall for the county on Thursday.
“This is a public health crisis,” Solages told the Post about the suit.
The Assemblywoman argues these year-old guidelines are just the beginning of what needs to be done to improve Long Island’s water quality, and that private corporations shouldn’t be able to “poison” Americans because implementing the new standards isn’t profitable.
“They are basically saying they want to sell poison to the American people,” Solages said.
“Long Island has some of the highest cancer rates in the country,” the Assemblywoman pointed out.
“You can’t pinpoint exactly why with just one reason, but I would guess our high levels of PFAs probably plays a part.”
Although the high levels of chemicals detected throughout the island are under the set legal limits, Solages, alongside health experts, explained that legality doesn’t necessarily equate to health.
“There is no such thing as a safe level of these chemicals,” Solages told the Post.
Solages is now looking for avenues to fight this lawsuit and calling on state officials to invest more in water infrastructure to “ensure public water companies can effectively filter out these chemicals.”
