Our Chance to Speak Out for Stronger PFAS and 1,4-Dioxane Standards for our Waters!
This is a process that only happens every three years, and is our opportunity to push the state to set stronger protections for surface waters. 1,4- Dioxane is on the list of new standards being proposed. The proposal is to set an standard for 80 ug/L for non-water supply watersheds and 0.35ug/L for water supply watersheds. Setting a standard of 80 ug/L will not be protective enough to meet the downstream standard of 0.35ug/L in a continuous, interconnected river system. In the Haw, Greensboro discharges into a non-water supply watershed, but just miles downstream, Pittsboro pulls from a water supply watershed. Confusing? Yes! This is the same water body and these designations should be set to protect the most sensitive use downstream.
E.Coli is also on the list of new standards. Currently the proposal is to set an E.Coli standard based on the 2012 EPA recommendations, but only for 19 counties in Western North Carolina. This is unacceptable. This standard should be applied statewide to protect all North Carolinians who swim, fish, and play in our state’s waters. What is missing from this list of proposals is PFAS. There are currently no proposals to set a surface water standard for PFAS. North Carolina has gained national attention due to the PFAS crisis in our state, and it’s past time for our state agencies to set protective standards for PFAS as a class for our surface waters.