The U.S. EPA is moving quickly to set new limits on PFOA/PFOS  in drinking water systems. Several U.S. mayors are raising concerns about the impact of these regulations on their cities, calling on the EPA to evaluate whether there is enough science to support the decision and if the benefits of an extremely low MCL outweigh the massive costs that would be placed on local water systems. These regulations do not happen in a vacuum. Water systems protect against hundreds of threats to drinking water safety daily, and many of them are dealing with strained budgets and operational capacity. We ..read more

By Manny Teodoro It’s not your imagination — water and sewer service really are more expensive than they used to be. But figuring out how much more expensive can be surprisingly tricky. A longstanding challenge for understanding utility affordability is that representative data on water and sewer prices didn’t exist until I published my first article depicting water/sewer affordability in the United States with data collected in 2017. Since then, I’ve updated and expanded that dataset biennially with the help of plucky and persistent research assistants at Texas A&M and ..read more

By Chad Seidel Recently released drinking water quality testing data calls into doubt major assumptions underpinning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed National Drinking Water Standards for PFOA and PFOS. Most importantly, these water quality testing results from water systems across the United States clearly show that the agency significantly overestimated the number of large water systems impacted and underestimated the impact on small water systems. These discrepancies have major implications on the public health benefits and costs of the EPA’s proposed PFAS drinking ..read more

A recent report by Utah State University revealed a $452 billion deficit in funding for critical water mains, with over 260,000 breaks annually. Water infrastructure is the backbone of our communities. This deficit poses significant risks to public health, environmental sustainability, and economic development. It is clear that we must prioritize investments and innovative solutions to modernize and maintain our water systems. Read the full report here. The post PR Newswire: New Report Says Lack of Funding for Critical Water Mains is $452 Billion, Over 260,000 Breaks Annually appeared first on ..read more

  Last month, the Water and Health Advisory Council attended the United States Conference of Mayors Annual Winter Meeting. The three-day conference consisted of informative panel discussions among local elected officials and thought leaders throughout the nation. Council Member Chad Seidel spoke to the growing concerns surrounding the EPA’s proposed PFAS drinking water regulations, urging decision-makers to apply the cost-benefit approach as we evaluate new policies resulting in unfunded mandates. The post Water and Health Advisory Council Attends U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting ..read more

  In his piece for Water and Finance Management, Council member Chad Seidel discusses the recently released drinking water quality testing data and calls into question the major assumptions underpinning the Environmental Protection Agency‘s proposed National Drinking Water Standards for PFOA and PFOS. Check out the article to learn more about how these oversights by the agency could impact the public health benefits and costs of the EPA’s proposed PFAS drinking water rule. Read the full article here. The post Water Finance & Management: New Drinking Water Data Uncovers Flaws in EPA’s ..read more

  Last month, the Water and Health Advisory Council (WHAC) attended the United States Conference of Mayors Annual Winter Meeting. The three-day conference consisted of informative panel discussions among local elected officials and thought leaders throughout the nation. WHAC Council Member Chad Seidal spoke to the growing concerns surrounding the EPA’s proposed PFAS drinking water regulations, urging decision-makers to apply the cost-benefit approach as we evaluate new policies resulting in unfunded mandates. The post Water and Health Advisory Council Attends US Conference of Mayors Winte ..read more

#1: Water Online: A Big-Picture Approach To Water Regulations Council member Janet Anderson sat down with Kevin Westerling of Water Online to discuss a risk-based approach to water regulations and policy. With limited funding and resources, it’s essential that decision makers take a risk-based approach to setting drinking water priorities in order to have the most meaningful reduction in public health risk.   #2: Water & Health Advisory Council Preliminary Statement on Proposed PFAS Regulations The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the much anticipated PFAS ..read more

Tap water in the U.S. has remained at a relatively low cost for most Americans considering the capital investments required to keep drinking water safe. However, old pipes and a shrinking Colorado River will likely impact the affordability of tap water. In this KUNC article, Council Members Kathryn Sorensen and Manny Teodoro discuss the need for new water infrastructure and how this will not come at a low cost. We must continue prioritizing investments in water infrastructure to help keep water accessibility and safety a reality. Read the full article online here. The post ..read more

  Council Member Chad Seidel recently shared insights with AP News about the lack of preparedness of many cities when faced with extreme weather events. Ensuring a reliable source of water in the face of emergencies must be a priority to ensure communities will not be left vulnerable in the face of natural disasters and crises.  Read the full article online here. The post AP News: When Kula needed water to stop wildfire, it got a trickle. Many other US cities are also vulnerable appeared first on Water & Health Advisory Council ..read more