EPA Adds Microplastics, Pharmaceuticals to Drinking Water Contaminant List

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has for the first time added microplastics and pharmaceuticals to its draft Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) for drinking water. This significant action, announced on a Thursday, is a direct mandate of the Safe Drinking Water Act, which requires the EPA to update the CCL every five years.

The inclusion provides local regulators with a tool to evaluate risks and could lead to further research and potential regulatory action, though it does not guarantee such outcomes.

The decision has elicited varied reactions from experts and environmental groups, with some viewing it as a crucial initial step while others express skepticism regarding its ultimate efficacy without additional, more decisive measures.

Regulatory Framework: Inclusion on the CCL

The EPA's draft Contaminant Candidate List now includes microplastics and pharmaceuticals, marking their initial appearance on the agency's roster of substances being considered for potential future regulation in drinking water. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin issued a statement acknowledging public concerns about these contaminants. Alongside microplastics and pharmaceuticals, the draft list also features per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other chemicals.

Inclusion on the CCL is intended to provide state and local regulators with a mechanism to assess potential risks within their water supplies. The EPA indicates that this step may facilitate further scientific research and could lead to the development of new regulatory standards.

However, the agency explicitly states that CCL listing does not ensure immediate regulatory changes.

Mixed Reactions from Experts and Advocates

The EPA's announcement has drawn differing responses from various stakeholders:

• Initial Step View: Sherri Mason, a Gannon University researcher specializing in plastic pollution, characterized the inclusion as an "important first step."

• Skepticism and Call for Further Action: Katherine O'Brien, an attorney with Earthjustice, described the action as "theater" and a "distraction." O'Brien stated that the move does not equate to substantive action and suggests it diverts attention from other regulatory efforts, including those related to reducing regulations on toxic chemicals.

  O'Brien also noted that historically, some contaminants have remained on the CCL for extended periods without resulting in regulatory action, pointing to the EPA's recent announcement that no regulatory actions would be pursued for nine chemicals from the previous contaminant list.

Push for Broader Data Collection

Environmental groups and several state governors have petitioned the EPA to add microplastics to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR). Inclusion on the UCMR would mandate the EPA to collect data on the prevalence of microplastics in public drinking water systems.

Mary Grant of Food & Water Watch stated that while the current CCL action is a step, it is "not sufficient" on its own. She expressed hope for both the inclusion of microplastics on the CCL and their addition to the UCMR.

Grant also highlighted that the process for data collection and rulemaking for drinking water contaminants is often lengthy, with new regulations stemming solely from CCL listing potentially taking a decade or more to materialize.