Testing for 'forever chemicals' lacking for tribal water systems
Tribal water systems are sampled for "forever chemicals" at a much lower rate than other water systems, according to a new study from the PFAS Project Lab at Northeastern University.
In a peer-reviewed study, researchers found that only about 3% of tribal water systems were sampled for PFAS by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during its previous rounds of required testing. By comparison, about 7% of non-tribal water systems were sampled during the same rounds of testing. In an upcoming round of sampling required by the EPA, an expected 12.7% of tribal water systems will be sampled, compared with 15.7% of non-tribal water systems, the study found.
Essentially, that means that tribal water systems are being tested less by the federal government, leaving gaps in knowledge for those who rely on the water systems. For the most part, testing isn't being done on tribal systems because they're smaller, said researcher Alissa Cordner.
"I think this shows that even policies and programs that are systematic and have clear criteria can still fail to equitably include all populations," Cordner said. "Here is a systematically designed program not including tribal systems, because they're smaller systems."
Cordner said the federal government should seek to ensure it is testing drinking water of marginalized communities at the same rates as other communities, to ensure the public is getting a full picture of where PFAS contamination may be affecting people.
Since the PFAS Project Lab started research on this project, some data regarding tribal systems has been made public, and for the most part those systems have been unaffected by PFAS. But even that data is important.
"It's not appropriate to assume because we don't have data, we don't have a problem," she said.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of man-made chemicals used for their water- and stain-resistant qualities in products such as clothing and carpet, nonstick cookware, packaging and firefighting foam. The family includes 5,000 compounds, which are persistent, remaining both in the environment and human body over time.
The chemicals have been linked to types of kidney and testicular cancers, lower birth weights, harm to immune and reproductive systems, altered hormone regulation and altered thyroid hormones. The chemicals enter the human body largely through drinking water.
'Water is life'
In Wisconsin, there is little data on levels of PFAS in tribal drinking water systems.
The state Department of Natural Resources, which oversees water quality for most water systems, referred questions about tribal testing to the EPA.
A spokesperson for the EPA said the agency is working with tribes on a voluntary basis to conduct testing for PFAS, and has sampled 13 systems so far out of 29.
Those that have been sampled so far are: Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Forest County Potawatomi, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Sokogon Chippewa and St. Croix Chippewa Tribe, according to a spokesperson for the EPA.
Several of the tribes that were sampled have multiple water systems.
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation collected water samples from homes served by three different tribal water systems this summer: Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in Odanah, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin in Keshena and Oneida Nation in Hobart. None of the samples had detectable limits of PFAS.
In total, the Journal Sentinel sampled water systems in 40 different cities, villages and towns and found that 30% had detections of PFAS above federal guidelines released this summer.
Tribal members acknowledged that tribal systems are less likely to be affected, but members still rely on testing protocols for safe water both from tribal and non-tribal systems.
"Most tribal lands are in areas that are undeveloped or don’t have significant industrial development, so it may be less likely to be contaminated by PFAS," said Ryan Greendeer, spokesperson for the Ho-Chunk Nation Legislature. "Many tribal members live in cities, towns, and villages that are not exclusive to the Nation, so we rely on their testing and reporting."
But the sampling that has been done only shows a part of the problem. As states and the federal government move forward with regulations, that will help protect a larger number of people both on tribal lands and not.
"Water is life," Greendeer said. "It would be best practice to not use materials or allow activities that could contaminate groundwater. We have to rely heavily on local, state, and federal laws and regulations for prevention and enforcement. That’s an area that we’d like to see more focused efforts on air and water quality."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Testing for 'forever chemicals' lacking for tribal water systems
