ALBANY – New legislation signed by Governor Hochul amends the state’s public health law to establish the first emerging contaminants list as well as expand the list of chemicals to be included.
The legislation requires the list be published within 90 days as well as updated every three years.
“New York families can have peace of mind knowing robust safeguards will soon be in place to rigorously test and monitor their water,” said Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall). “The fight against PFOS/PFOA and other contaminants continues, but this new law ensures no small municipality or isolated water system will go without the necessary testing to identify these harmful chemicals in our drinking water.”
PFOS and PFOA in firefighting foam at the Stewart Air National Guard base have leached over the years into the City of Newburgh’s drinking water source, Washington Lake, as well as into area streams.
State officials said by requiring the inclusion of chemicals listed on the EPA’s third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule that have already been detected in water systems in the state, New York will gain a better understanding of the levels of exposure.
The state’s list, which will include the EPA’s chemical list as well as some of the most recent emerging contaminants, would provide the public with critical water quality information, protect public health, and inform the Department of Health on what chemicals need drinking water standards, officials said.
