Dear ,
Today, Waterkeeper Alliance, in partnership with local Waterkeeper groups and the Hispanic Access Foundation, released a new national report showing that toxic PFAS—also known as “forever chemicals”—were detected in 98% of the rivers, lakes, and streams we tested across 19 states.
Building on our 2022 Phase I report—which revealed PFAS contamination in 83% of tested U.S. rivers, lakes, and streams—this second of a multi-phase monitoring initiative focused on sites downstream from wastewater treatment plant (WWTPs) and permitted biosolids application fields, particularly in disproportionately impacted communities. Using PFASsive™ passive samplers, developed by SiREM, these devices were deployed upstream and downstream of 22 WWTPs and 10 biosolids application fields, capturing PFAS levels over at least 20 days—offering more accurate insight than traditional “grab” sampling.
This report comes just months after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to weaken national drinking water standards for PFAS. Despite knowing that PFAS contamination affects the drinking water of approximately 100 million people in the United States, Administrator Lee Zeldin is considering rolling back regulations for several harmful compounds—including PFHxS, PFNA, and GenX—and delaying enforcement of new rules for PFOA and PFOS, two of the most dangerous PFAS. Further compounding the issue is the lack of federal limits for PFAS in biosolids even though the agency has been aware of its presence in the product since at least 2https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LGKXuZlHcXMuj5z9IOtiWvDMcxNzI-c7/view?usp=share_link.003. In 2023, EPA estimated that 60% of biosolids were land-applied for agriculture, reclamation, or other uses—with 31% applied to U.S. agricultural land.
With just days left before our fiscal year ends on June 30, we need your support to continue this work. Your donations powers our legal, policy, and grassroots efforts to stop PFAS at the source and defend the right to clean water.
