EPA Takes Action on Drinking Water Safety
On Thursday, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced steps aimed at ensuring the safety of drinking water in the U.S. They highlighted concerns regarding microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and other harmful contaminants.
“Americans have expressed worries about plastics and drugs in their water for far too long. Today, we are addressing those concerns,” Zeldin said in a written statement. “By adding microplastics and pharmaceuticals to the Contaminant Candidate List for the first time, the EPA is making a strong commitment. We will rely on science to guide us, pursue answers, and maintain the highest standards to protect the health of all American families.”
The EPA is currently working on the Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL), which will be opened for public comment. This list is crucial for guiding research, funding, and decisions related to public water systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
According to a press release from the agency, the draft CCL 6 will address several groups of contaminants that may affect drinking water. These include microplastics, pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and disinfection byproducts, along with 75 additional chemicals and nine microorganisms. Notably, this is the first time that microplastics and pharmaceuticals have been recognized as priority pollutants. This decision responds directly to public anxiety about the substances present in drinking water and will help prioritize future research and funding.
Microplastics are particularly concerning, as they are small plastic particles detected in human blood, breast milk, and organs, which now fall under EPA’s drinking water priority list. Likewise, medications such as antidepressants and antibiotics often enter water systems through human waste or improper disposal.
The EPA plans to initiate a 60-day comment period, allowing Americans to express their views on these issues. As required by the SDWA, the agency will publish a list of contaminants not subject to proposed national primary drinking water regulations every five years.
