Nationwide PFAS rules announced. Federal agency determines chemicals' levels in NM waters.

The Rio Grande near Albuquerque contains so-called “forever chemicals,” as do groundwater and surface water throughout the state, the U.S. Geological Survey announced Wednesday.

The announcement came the same day the Biden administration finalized strict limits on certain chemicals in drinking water that will require utilities to reduce them to the lowest level they reliably can be measured.

The rule is the first national drinking water limit on toxic PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are widespread and long-lasting in the environment. The synthetic chemicals are found in common items such as firefighting foams, nonstick cookware and fast-food packaging.

They exist throughout the state, but urban areas are the most significant contributor, according to the USGS. The USGS completed two studies in New Mexico to reach that conclusion.

The Environmental Protection Agency has found that the chemicals can lead to adverse human health risks.

The initial USGS study sampled 117 groundwater wells and 18 surface water sites throughout the state between August 2020 and October 2021, according to a USGS news release. PFAS were found in all major rivers, and the highest concentrations were found downstream from urban areas.

A follow-up study was done to examine water quality in the Rio Grande as it flows through Albuquerque. The scientists concluded that the urban area significantly contributes to levels of PFAS in the Rio Grande.

“The comprehensive survey of New Mexico’s major rivers and evaluation of groundwater quality across the state is critical in helping NMED protect these valuable resources,” Andy Jochems, Source Water Protection team lead from the New Mexico Environment Department, said in a statement. “The science provided by the USGS helps us make informed decisions about our drinking water resources into the future.”

The Biden administration’s new rules will set limits on the amount of PFAS that can be in drinking water.

Water providers will generally have three years to conduct testing. If those tests exceed the limits, they’ll have two more years to install treatment systems, according to EPA officials.

Utility groups, however, warned that the rules will require expensive upgrades and increase the cost of water. They said those costs will be particularly difficult in smaller communities with fewer resources.

David Morris, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, said on Wednesday that the utility monitors and tests for PFAS in the local water supply.

“We don’t anticipate that we will have to take any action in the near future because we haven’t seen anything in our system close to the limits,” he said.

Jorge Armando Estrada, a spokesman for the Environment Department, said the officials were not surprised by the USGS study.

He said the rules will require utilities, beginning in 2029, that exceed PFAS limits to make improvements to bring them into compliance.

“While all public water systems will be required to monitor and report on PFAS levels, only those exceeding the MCLs will be required to make improvements,” he said in an email. “There is a substantial amount of funding becoming available to water systems to cover the initial sampling and monitoring costs and to cover costs of implementing treatment measures to reduce the PFAS when needed.”

Camilla Feibelman, the director of the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, said the organization welcomed the new rules. She also said if people are concerned about the chemicals, they can take steps such as not eating fast food and throwing away Teflon cooking materials if the Teflon is cracked.

“PFAS are everywhere,” she said. “Without really intense cleanup, it’s going to be really tough to get them out of the water system.”

EPA Administrator Michael Regan says the rule is the most important action the EPA has ever taken on PFAS.

“The result is a comprehensive and life-changing rule, one that will improve the health and vitality of so many communities across our country,” he said.