NEW YORK, November 5, 2010 (Water Tech) — New York City officials issue warning about lead contamination

WASHINGTON, November 9, 2010 (Water Tech) — EPA to issue new rules to reduce water pollution from power plants

WASHINGTON, November 17 2010 (Water Tech) — EPA to expand chemicals testing for endocrine disruption

HINKLEY, CA, November 17, 2010 (Water Tech) — Pacific Gas & Electric ordered to provide clean drinking water

BARSTOW, CA, November 24, 2010 (Water Tech) — Four-day drinking water ban lifted

New York City officials issue warning about lead contamination

NEW YORK, November 5, 2010 (Water Tech) — Water tests revealing elevated lead levels in some older buildings prompted New York City officials to warn residents to run their taps for 30 seconds before drinking water, cooking with it or using it to make baby formula, the Tri-City Herald reported.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection said the city’s water supply is virtually lead-free and attributed the contamination to lead pipes and fixtures typically found in buildings that are more than 40 years old, according to the report.

“The elevations seen in the city’s recent tests have been too small to pose clear health threats ... but the best level of lead exposure is zero, especially for children and pregnant women,” said Cas Holloway, the city’s environmental commissioner.

EPA to issue new rules to reduce water pollution from power plants

WASHINGTON, November 9, 2010 (Water Tech) — In response to pleas from U.S. environmental groups, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will take action to protect America’s waterways from coal power plant pollution, according to a press release. EPA will issue new rules, which would protect Americans from millions of pounds of heavy metals and other toxic pollutants, by July 23, 2012, with final rules due by Jan. 31, 2014, the release stated.

The Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) and Earthjustice, representing Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club, notified EPA last year that the new clean water rules were decades overdue, leaving the American public exposed to heavy metals like arsenic, lead, chromium and mercury.

“These rules were supposed to have been written nearly 30 years ago — they are not new requirements,” said EIP attorney Jennifer Peterson said. “Wastewater treatment is affordable, and our waterways are not a dumping ground for toxic waste from coal-fired power plants. We appreciate EPA’s commitment to get these long overdue rules back on track.”

EPA to expand chemicals testing for endocrine disruption

WASHINGTON, November 17 2010 (Water Tech) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified a list of 134 chemicals that will be screened for their potential to disrupt the endocrine system, according to a press release.

The list includes chemicals that have been identified as priorities under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and may be found in sources of drinking water where a substantial number of people may be exposed.

The list also includes pesticide active ingredients that are being evaluated under EPA’s registration review program to ensure they meet current scientific and regulatory standards, the release stated.

“Endocrine disruptors represent a serious health concern for the American people, especially children. Americans today are exposed to more chemicals in our products, our environment and our bodies than ever before, and it is essential that EPA takes every step to gather information and prevent risks,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We are using the best available science to examine a larger list of chemicals and ensure that they are not contaminating the water we drink and exposing adults and children to potential harm.”WASHINGTON, November 17 2010 (Water Tech) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified a list of 134 chemicals that will be screened for their potential to disrupt the endocrine system, according to a press release.

The list includes chemicals that have been identified as priorities under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and may be found in sources of drinking water where a substantial number of people may be exposed.

The list also includes pesticide active ingredients that are being evaluated under EPA’s registration review program to ensure they meet current scientific and regulatory standards, the release stated.

“Endocrine disruptors represent a serious health concern for the American people, especially children. Americans today are exposed to more chemicals in our products, our environment and our bodies than ever before, and it is essential that EPA takes every step to gather information and prevent risks,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We are using the best available science to examine a larger list of chemicals and ensure that they are not contaminating the water we drink and exposing adults and children to potential harm.”

Multi-Pure Commentary:
Multi-Pure Drinking Water Systems have been certified by NSF International, under Standard 53 to reduce Endocrine Disrupters (PCBs, Chlordane, and Toxaphene). Read more about Endocrine Disrupters on our website: www.multipureco.com/endocrine_disrupters.htm

Pacific Gas & Electric ordered to provide clean drinking water

HINKLEY, CA, November 17, 2010 (Water Tech) — Water regulators announced on Tuesday that Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) must provide clean drinking water to residents whose groundwater is contaminated with hexavalent chromium, the San Bernardino County Sun reported.

Between 1952 and 1966, PG&E used hexavalent chromium to fight corrosion in cooling towers at a facility southeast of Hinkley, Calif.

Some of the chromium-tainted wastewater leaked from ponds and contaminated a 2-mile-long portion of an aquifer.

A legal battle involving the toxic spill was the subject of the 2000 movie “Erin Brockovich.” The order will be formally issued by Nov. 30, but PG&E has already started distributing bottled water to residents whose wells have more than 3.1 ppb of hexavalent chromium, the article stated.

“The order may not go into effect for a couple weeks, but it can be in effect in perpetuity,” said Lauri Kemper, assistant executive officer for the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board. “And we can require reports to verify they’re doing it.”

Multi-Pure Commentary:
Multi-Pure’s MP750 Plus RO has been certified by NSF International, under Standard 58, to reduce Hexavalent Chromium.

Four-day drinking water ban lifted

BARSTOW, CA, November 24, 2010 (Water Tech) — A four-day ban on drinking tap water has been lifted in the Mojave Desert town of Barstow, Calif., the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Golden State Water Co. initiated the ban after water samples taken from a well last Thursday revealed high levels of perchlorate, a chemical used in rocket fuel, the article stated.

Water tests conducted on Tuesday showed the water meets all drinking water standards and residents were notified the tap water is safe to drink, according to the report. Officials are conducting tests on private wells to determine the extent of the contamination and where it originated.