OPINION: South Carolina must address pollution now by 'toxic forever chemicals'
One of the biggest conversations in the world of water quality revolves around a family of chemicals called per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Known colloquially as “toxic forever chemicals,” PFAS are often found in water sources near legacy pollution sites and military bases.
PFAS are used to make non-stick, waterproof, and stain-resistant products. From firefighting foam to clothing to non-stick pans, these chemicals are useful in a variety of applications. As a result, these chemicals are found in all sorts of manufacturing facilities, and waste from these factories is often discharged into our waterways or used in sludge that is applied to the land, releasing these toxic compounds into our environment.
The human impact of PFAS is unsettling – they have been linked to cancer, childhood developmental impact, reproductive and immune system harm, and more. Factor in that it takes thousands of years for PFAS to break down and you begin to grasp the gravity of the problem.
In recent years, awareness of PFAS contamination has risen. In 2021 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made PFAS a priority, outlining a multi-year plan to deal with PFAS contamination nationally. But we know that things move at a glacial pace on the federal level and preliminary testing by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) shows that PFAS contamination is already present in many of South Carolina’s water sources.
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We cannot sit back and wait for the federal government to act. There are South Carolinians who are drinking contaminated water right now. This is why Conservation Voters of South Carolina, and the South Carolina Conservation Coalition, are working to advance a bill this legislative session (S.219) that would allow immediate action to address PFAS in drinking water.
The bill was the subject of a recent Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee hearing where heart-wrenching testimonials were heard from SC citizens who are already suffering the terrible effects of these chemicals. One family was drinking well water for decades that recently tested positive with incredibly high PFAS levels. The medical issues plaguing their family, including their teenage son, are consistent with PFAS exposure. Now they’re left buying bottled water while they search for a way to provide safe water for their family.
Unfortunately, this is not our nameless, faceless neighbor’s problem. It’s not an Upstate or Midlands or Lowcountry problem. It’s a South Carolina problem. Nearly every community in our state has legacy contamination from one pollutant or another.
Former U.S. Representative Harold Mitchell Jr. of Spartanburg knows about dealing with legacy pollution all too well. His fight to clean up the Arkwright and Forest Park neighborhoods in Spartanburg pitted him against several sources of legacy contamination from industrial sites. His determination led to the founding of ReGenesis, a non-profit that sparked a remarkable and sustained community recovery. But his fight was long, hard, and took immense will. We cannot place that burden on our communities.
We must seize the solutions in front of us to do something about PFAS contamination and avoid passing these toxic legacies to future generations.
With once-in-a-generation funding coming to South Carolina through federal funds and an unprecedented state surplus, our state leaders have a transformational opportunity to protect South Carolinians from contaminated drinking water right now.
Rather than a regulatory "stick" approach that takes years to develop through a bureaucracy, S.219 takes a funding-based ‘carrot’ approach to address PFAS contamination swiftly. Simply put, if a water system or individual well owners with high concentrations of PFAS wants to take immediate action to reduce or eliminate PFAS, the bill gives the state the authority to grant funds to these entities to address the contamination. No South Carolinian should have to drink contaminated water and watch as their family’s health suffers. We cannot afford to wait.
Please visit cvsc.org where you can find the latest on S.219 and how to take action to help this critical bill move forward.
Zach Bjur is the Land, Water, Ocean Project Manager for Conservation Voters of South Carolina
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Opinion: South Carolina should address pollution found in water
