Of 140 million people in the US who draw water from US aquifers via private or public wells, 70% at risk

Summary

A US Geological Survey study estimates PFAS chemicals may contaminate drinking water for up to 70% of the 140 million Americans using aquifers, affecting around 95 million people.

Some groundwater readings were up to 37,000 times the EPA’s new limits. Private wells and small public wells, which serve 13% of the population, lack strict EPA PFAS regulations, making them especially vulnerable.

Contamination is most severe near military bases, airports, and industrial sites, with high exposure in Michigan, Florida, and California.

The USGS also produced an interactive map that shows where there may be trouble.

  • @disguy_ovahea
    21•1 day ago

    $45 for 65 gallons? That lasts one person 4-6 weeks depending on their weight. That’s not even counting using filtered water for cooking, tea, coffee, etc.

    A regular Brita filter 3-pack only costs $15. The PFA rated filters are nine times more expensive by comparison.

    • Atelopus-zeteki
      -5•1 day ago

      Agreed, they are more expensive. Are they the most expensive? No. Do you have a better short term alternative? One option would be to use distillation. It would be lovely to remove PFAS entirely from the planet, but that isn’t happening in the short term, unless you are aware of something I’m not. Please share? I’m just trying to find ways to reduce the toxic load for myself and others. Thanks!

      Here is EWG’s article on the topic, which gives similar recommendations: https://www.ewg.org/research/getting-forever-chemicals-out-drinking-water-ewgs-guide-pfas-water-filters

      • @disguy_ovahea
        10•1 day ago

        Oh, I’m not discounting their need or efficacy.

        I think is absolutely criminal that we are paying to filter out the chemicals and not 3M and DuPont.