‘Forever chemicals’ found in NJ waterways spark calls for stricter drinking water standards
Environment New Jersey released findings on Wednesday along the banks of the Raritan River showing elevated levels of what are known as “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, at testing sites statewide along waterways.
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An environmental group wants stricter standards and more testing for drinking water.
Environment New Jersey released findings on Wednesday along the banks of the Raritan River showing elevated levels of what are known as “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, at testing sites statewide along waterways.
The group says those PFAS chemicals put wildlife and drinking water at risk and is calling for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to pass legislation that would adopt higher drinking water standards.
“We found in New Jersey 91% out of 86 testing locations had PFAS chemicals in them, as well as in the Raritan Watershed, we found that 100% of the 11 different sites had PFAS in them,” said Lizzy Mulvenna, the clean water associate from Environment New Jersey.
“What we don’t have are standards for these newly understood forever chemicals, the PFAS. We need standards,” said Heather Fenyk, of the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership.
A bill that would require the DEP to adopt drinking water standards, including PFAS testing, advanced last week to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
