The recent decision by the California Office of Environmental
Health Hazard Assessment to establish a Public Health Goal for
perchlorate levels in drinking water is, at least, a step in the
right direction.
The recent decision by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to establish a Public Health Goal for perchlorate levels in drinking water is, at least, a step in the right direction.
It’s encouraging that at least some environmental regulators haven’t forgotten about Olin’s perchlorate plume that’s plaguing South Valley.
The goal – not a mandate of the maximum amount of perchlorate allowable in drinking water – was set at 6 parts per billion or lower. The PHG is higher than the state’s action level of 4 ppb. The action level means that water providers must notify their customers if their water tests higher than 4 ppb for perchlorate. The PHG is significantly lower than the level at which drinking water providers must shut off the water valves – that level is 50 ppb.
It could take about a year for the state to establish a maximum contaminant level. In the meantime, the PHG is just a guideline.
“While it is not a regulation, this goal provides scientific guidance to health authorities in setting a regulatory standard for perchlorate in drinking water,” said Dr. Joan Denton, OEHHA director, told reporter Carol Holzgrafe. “OEHHA based the PHG on data from a highly regarded 2002 study in which human volunteers were given perchlorate in drinking water over a 14-day period. Using a well-accepted method, OEHHA scientists added margins of safety to the study’s data on adults to calculate a PHG that protects the susceptible populations.”
So, while we’re not convinced that a 14-day study is the ideal basis for establishing such a critical guideline, it’s better than nothing – which is what we’ve been getting from the federal environmental regulators.
But the PHG, and the study upon which it was based, shouldn’t be the end of research into what level of exposure to perchlorate in drinking water is safe. Clean water and environmental advocates say that 6 ppb is too high a level of perchlorate for infants and pregnant women. Defense industry lobbyists believe the level should be considerably higher.
As a practical local matter, until a new maximum contaminant level is set, the Santa Clara Valley Water District, the regional water board and our local elected officials should make sure that Olin continues to provide drinking water for private well owners and reparations for municipalities whose wells test higher than the state’s 4 ppb action level.
In the meantime, the onus is still on the federal Environmental Protection Agency to set a federal standard for perchlorate in drinking water – a task on which it has been dragging its feet.
Perchlorate contamination remains a key issue for South Valley. It impacts our quality of life, our health, our businesses and our pocketbooks. We must remain vigilant and informed as the process of establishing perchlorate standards continues.
