Clean drinking water is the bedrock of any community. It the most basic human need imaginable, and something most people simply expect to have available at a moment's notice at home . Sadly, this vital resource can become a horrifyingly efficient source of contamination if proper procedures aren't followed.
A good example of the ramifications of tainted water is the case of lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan. This crisis was so bad that the EPA had to put $100 million toward infrastructure upgrades in 2017. The state of Michigan also contributed an additional $20 million for the endeavor. Flint Mayor Karen Weaver was quoted in the EPA press release about the grant, stating that this amount of money would help fulfill the city's goal to replace 6,000 pipes by the end of the year.
While lead poisonings are some of the worst contamination stories, they certainly aren't the only risk to clean drinking water. An emerging threat are per- and polyfluoroalky substances (PFAS.) These chemicals are extremely dangerous for human beings. What's more, new evidence suggests that PFAS have made their way into the groundwater of Portland, Oregon.
Firefighting foam to blame
A report from Oregon Public Broadcasting details the recent discovery of the chemicals in Portland's groundwater, pointing to firefighting foam as the potential culprit. PFAS are often found in these compounds, as well as other human products such as nonstick pans and certain rain-proof boots. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests these chemicals are dangerous to people and very capable of contaminating water supplies.
Oregon Public Broadcasting reports that the two major contributors to the current contamination are the Portland Air National Guard Base and the Portland Fire & Rescue Bureau training facility. Both of these organizations utilize PFAS in their firefighting foams, which were able to find their way into the groundwater. The Portland Fire & Rescue Bureau is nearby the Columbia South Shore Well Field, which acts as a backup water supply during summer months, which could have made this contamination a major disaster.
That said, there is good news here. Oregon Public Broadcasting quotes Douglas Wise, groundwater protection program manager for the Portland Water Bureau as saying that Portland's drinking water has not been contaminated. The contamination seems to be contained to areas directly near both the Portland Air National Guard Base and the Portland Fire & Rescue Bureau training facility. These regions tested positive for PFAS at 40,000 parts per trillion and 1,600 parts per trillion, respectively.
While the primary water source for Portland residents hasn't been found to contain any PFAS, the sheer amount of the substances found are certainly worrying. The EPA believes the cutoff for a health advisory in water contamination exceeds 70 parts per trillion. What's more, groundwater is constantly in flux. There isn't any immediate concern that these contamination sites may seep into the water supply, but it's something that officials expect to keep an eye on, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Regulatory action may be needed
There is an enormous amount of evidence that PFAS are dangerous to people. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has stated that PFAS are linked to higher cholesterol levels, infertility for women, an increased chance of cancer, and many other concerns. On top of that, drinking water contamination isn't the only issue to worry about when it comes to these substances. The EPA states that people who eat fish that live in PFAS-filled water can also be exposed to them. Many Americans catch and eat fish regularly for both sport and survival, and a large-scale contamination of a food-supplying body of water would be terrible to say the least.
Cases like the one in Portland are beginning to drive a push toward regulatory action in terms of the use of PFAS.
For the moment, scientists want to get a better grip on the extent of PFAS contamination as well as a more complete study of its effects. The ATSDR and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working to survey eight states in the U.S. for PFAS, the chosen locations all near former or current military installations. If these organizations find something worrying, there may need to be a national conversation on the correct path to ensure clean drinking water for all.
