New EPA Water Quality Mandate Prompting Rate Hikes for Lowcountry Water Bills
Residents of Charleston County in South Carolina, brace yourself for increases in water and sewer bills due to new drinking water standards enacted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Charleston Water System (CWS), the primary water utility in the area, announced the potential for higher bills in response to infrastructure changes required by the new guidelines. At the heart of the issue are Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a family of chemicals found in various goods ranging from firefighting foam to food packaging.
Mounting Costs
The new infrastructure necessary to meet the EPA mandate is estimated to cost the CWS a staggering $130 million. This figure represents just the tip of the iceberg. Removing PFAS compounds from the water supply to meet the new standards is another pressing concern. As per the last test executed by the water system in December 2023, the current water supply would clear the new standards barring one category where CWS noted around 1.5 parts per trillion of a PFAS compound exceeding the EPA regulation. Addressing this will set the water system back by approximately $200 million in the first five years alone, according to Mike Saia, the public information administrator with the CWS. Unfortunately, these costs will have to be passed onto clients, in the form of higher water bills.
The Impact on Lowcountry Residents
With no other alternative, residential customers can anticipate a 5% to 10% increase in their water bills. Additionally, wholesale customers, including municipalities sourcing water from CWS, are likely to pass this cost on to their residents. Saia stated, “Our customers get about a million or more parts per trillion (of PFAS) every day, from regular everyday life — from dust, things like makeup, food packaging, among a hundred other sources.”
While the looming financial implications are a concern, local environmental groups are directing attention to the more significant issue at hand – the wide-scale impact of these chemicals. PFAS compounds have shown up in Lowcountry dolphins, fish, and crabs, and environmentalists stress the need to treat and remove these harmful chemicals from the environment.
Looking Forward
This monumental task right now falls on the shoulders of utilities like CWS, who are working to meet the new EPA mandate by 2029. However, CWS officials believe that the responsibility should not be shouldered by utilities and consumers alone. They call on the EPA to penalize producers of PFAS and hold them accountable for the cost of mitigation measures.
The establishment of the new EPA water quality mandate emphasizes a push for improved public health and increased environmental standards. Though it places considerable financial burden on utilities and consumers, many consider it a necessary step towards ensuring safer, cleaner drinking water. The long-term benefits may outweigh the short-term costs, but this transition is not without its challenges, as demonstrated in the Lowcountry.
