The US Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new regulations for acceptable levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, in drinking water. If implemented, utilities would need to reduce the concentration of PFAS chemicals in drinking water to almost zero. PFAS chemicals are found in everything from disposable food packaging to cosmetics, and are already estimated to have contaminated drinking water for as many as 200 million Americans. The regulation changes will be the largest upgrade to US water regulations in decades. Current studies note that exposure to PFAS is harmful and causes various health consequences ranging from a higher risk of certain cancers to fertility complications; the full extent of PFAS’ health hazards is not yet known. Breaking down PFAS chemicals is difficult and expensive – the EPA estimated that water utilities would need to spend between $770m and $1bn annually to comply with the changes. The economic cost will be passed on to consumers paying their water bills. A handful of states have already explored restrictions on PFAS in drinking water, though none as stringent as the EPA’s proposal, which hopes to see the rule finalised later this year. Some of the $9bn that the EPA received for water programs through the infrastructure bill will go toward helping states with their expenses.
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The groundbreaking net zero school in the UK reaches its highest point of construction.
Construction firm Morgan Sindall has held a "topping out" ceremony at the Buntingford First School in Hertfordshire, which is set...
