Skipped showers, paper plates: An Arizona suburb’s water is cut off
RIO VERDE, Ariz. — Joe McCue thought he had found a desert paradise when he bought one of the new stucco houses sprouting in the granite foothills of Rio Verde, Arizona. There were good schools, mountain views and cactus-spangled hiking trails out the back door.
Then the water got cut off. Continue reading Skipped showers, paper plates: An Arizona suburb’s water is cut off
New Bay Area maps show hidden flood risk from sea level rise and groundwater
Amid dramatic ocean swells and drenching atmospheric rivers, a new report lays bare a hidden aspect of sea level rise that has been exacerbating flooding in the Bay Area.
The report, which was released Tuesday, maps areas that could flood from groundwater hovering just a few feet, or even inches below ground. This layer of water gets pushed upward as denser water from the ocean moves inland from rising tides. On its way up, even before the water breaks the surface, it can seep into the cracks of basements, infiltrate plumbing, or, even more insidiously, re-mobilize toxic chemicals buried underground. Continue reading New Bay Area maps show hidden flood risk from sea level rise and groundwater
U.S. military takes important step towards PFAS-free firefighting foams
New rule comes after years of PFAS contamination of water supplies for millions of Americans
Health advocates praise this move while calling for transparency and requirements for the safety of new foams
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) released a revised military specification (“mil spec”) for the purchase and use of firefighting foam free of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Revisions to the mil spec were required by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The new rule comes after years of PFAS contamination of water supplies for millions of Americans.
This new specification also impacts airports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was directed by Congress to allow airports to use fluorine-free foams by October 2021 and issued a new alert today. Continue reading U.S. military takes important step towards PFAS-free firefighting foams
Locally caught freshwater fish across the United States are likely a significant source of exposure to PFOS and other perfluorinated compounds
Locally caught freshwater fish across the United States are likely a significant source of exposure to PFOS and other perfluorinated compounds – ScienceDirect Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, gained significant public and regulatory attention due to widespread contamination … Continue reading Locally caught freshwater fish across the United States are likely a significant source of exposure to PFOS and other perfluorinated compounds
EPA Adds Nine Additional PFAS to Toxics Release Inventory List
EPA Adds Nine Additional PFAS to Toxics Release Inventory List | NRWA WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the automatic addition of nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list. … Continue reading EPA Adds Nine Additional PFAS to Toxics Release Inventory List
EPA Releases New PFAS Analytic Tools
EPA Releases New PFAS Analytic Tools | NRWA Interactive webpage provides information on PFAS sources across the U.S. Jan 5, 2023 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a new interactive webpage, called the “PFAS Analytic … Continue reading EPA Releases New PFAS Analytic Tools
2023 PFAS Cost Recovery Update
2023 PFAS Cost Recovery Update | NRWA More information on a PFAS lawsuit Continue reading 2023 PFAS Cost Recovery Update
Emergency Management Community Emergency Response Team
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, which allows them to focus on more complex tasks. Through CERT, the capabilities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters is built and enhanced. Continue reading Emergency Management Community Emergency Response Team
Water on Whidbey January 2023
An Imperfect Storm
The December 27, 2022, flooding around Whidbey Island was a foretaste of a future with climate change and sea level rise. The flooding highlighted the risks our water systems face from sea water intrusion and other potential problems such as inundation of equipment, loss of power, or contamination from damaged sewer and septic infrastructure. Continue reading An Imperfect Storm
Investors pressure top firms to halt production of toxic ‘forever chemicals’
Investors from some of the world’s largest firms are pressuring chemical companies to end production of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”, which shareholders say represent an enormous and growing threat to manufacturers’ bottom lines. Continue reading Investors pressure top firms to halt production of toxic ‘forever chemicals’
Public Health Assessment Training
The Public Health Assessment Training (PHAT) provides with the basics to conduct the public health assessment or PHA. The PHA is the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)’s method to evaluate community exposures to hazardous substances from hazardous waste sites. Continue reading Public Health Assessment Training
Bylaws Updated
At the Special Member Meeting held on January 5th, 2023, the membership voted to accept the Proposed Bylaw Changes previously posted. The Bylaws page has been updated to reflect the changes. Continue reading Bylaws Updated
PFAS One Water Risk Communication Messaging for Water Sector Professionals
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of increasing concern to the water sector and the public. It is critical that water systems continue to be the trusted sources of information for their customers, especially regarding emerging contaminants such as PFAS. Therefore, water utilities must proactively reach out to customers; be prepared to respond to questions; and communicate clearly about all aspects of PFAS. This project provides communications materials water systems can use as they interact with customers, regulators, and other stakeholders. The materials are provided in two toolkits: one for One Water messaging and one for messaging specific to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. Research partner: American Water Works Association. Published in 2022. Continue reading PFAS One Water Risk Communication Messaging for Water Sector Professionals
Special Member Meeting Jan 5, 2023 – Agenda
As we did not have a quorum at the Annual Meeting held in December, we need to hold a Special Meeting in January to complete the business we were unable to complete at that meeting. It is critical that sufficient members attend this meeting so that we can elect officers and approve the budget so that the Association can continue to function in 2023. Continue reading Special Member Meeting Jan 5, 2023 – Agenda