SOURCE WATER CONTAMINATION RESOURCES

• U.S. Military Bases With Cancer-Linked Contaminated Water Are Undercounted Online

  Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of an estimated 5,000 man-made fluorinated chemicals that have been used, since the 1940s, in the manufacturing processes of various consumer products and industries. PFAS are widely used, especially because of their oil and water repellency and temperature and chemical resistance.

• Mine Waste Dams Threaten The Environment, Even When They Don't Fail

  Scars from large mining operations are permanently etched across the landscapes of the world. The environmental damage and human health hazards that these activities create may be both severe and irreversible.

• 4 Benefits Of Electrocoagulation For Arsenic Removal From Water

  In water and wastewater treatment, arsenic is classfied as a heavy metal. It is well known for its toxicity and it can cause numerous health problems in humans if consumed at high enough doses. Arsenic can affect the skin, liver, kidneys, bladder, and prostate as well as the nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems. Due to the many health risks associated with arsenic, the U.S. EPA has set the drinking water standard at 10 ppb as the maximum allowable concentration in drinking water. Therefore, this is the goal of all treatment systems for arsenic removal from water.

• Sustainability Trends In The Water Industry: A Focus On Microplastics In Wastewater Treatment

  Plastic has had tremendous impact on society in ways both large and small, such as with microplastics — tiny substances creating a huge problem.

• Bushfires Threaten Drinking Water Safety. The Consequences Could Last For Decades

  Bushfires pose serious short- and long-term impacts to public drinking water quality. They can damage water supply infrastructure and water catchments, impeding the treatment processes that normally make our water safe to drink. Several areas in New South Wales and Victoria have already been issued with warnings about the quality of their drinking water. Here’s what we know about the short- and long-term risks.

• Understanding PFAS’ Impact On Remediation Strategies

  For more than 16.5 million water-utility customers in 33 different states, contamination caused by per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a source-water issue that will not go away for a long time. What are the practical options for community water systems currently confronting this challenge? Here is an overview of several treatments and their relative successes against a wide variety of PFAS compounds.

• EPA Continues To Update Its Environmental Sampling And Analytical Methods (ESAM) Program

  EPA’s Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) aims to increase the United States’ capabilities to prepare for and respond to environmental disasters involving chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear substances (CBRN). As part of this effort, EPA researchers develop scientific data, methods, and tools that can be used by various stakeholders, including laboratories and on-scene coordinators, to increase the effectiveness of response.

• Nutrient Sensor Action Challenge Winners: Data And Decisions To Manage Excess Nutrients

  Nutrients in the environment from excess nitrogen and phosphorous can result in negative impacts on water quality. EPA is improving nutrient management by incentivizing the development of low-cost technology solutions, such as nutrient sensors, in collaboration with USGS, USDA, NIST, NOAA, and the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).

• WRF Hosts Capitol Hill, State-Of-The-Science Briefing On Harmful Algal Blooms

  To make informed decisions about how to limit exposure to cyanotoxins, utilities need information to select and implement a comprehensive and technically sound management approach. The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has been actively involved in developing effective innovative solutions to help utilities address this challenge and protect public health.

• How Giving Legal Rights To Nature Could Help Reduce Toxic Algae Blooms In Lake Erie

  August and September are peak months for harmful blooms of algae in western Lake Erie. This year’s outbreak covered more than 620 square miles by mid-August. These blooms, which can kill fish and pets and threaten public health, are driven mainly by agricultural pollution and increasingly warm waters due to climate change.