Historic protections aimed at keeping our water safe from lead and PFAS are facing challenges in court from polluters, and Trump’s EPA, under Lee Zeldin, will soon decide whether to defend these protections in court. The Lead out of Water Rule (officially the “Lead and Copper Rule Improvements”) strengthens protections against lead in drinking water by requiring full lead service line replacement in a decade for most communities. Our members have sent over 40,000 messages to Congress in recent weeks to defend the Lead Out of Water Rule from legislative attacks, and the pressure we’re building is working – demonstrating how unpopular revoking this rule would be. There’s a limited window where this rule can be rolled back in Congress, and time is running out. The courts will be the next battleground. >> Send EPA a message to keep poisonous lead out of our water Toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” don’t readily break down on their own in the environment. They leach into our food, water, ecosystems, and even our bodies, causing numerous health issues, including low birth weight, cancer, and other harmful illnesses. Now, two important Biden-era actions are under attack: one that sets limits for PFAS in drinking water, and one that designates PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances – the first step to holding polluters accountable. The EPA already asked for an extension on one of the PFAS decisions, which means they’re still considering how they’ll respond. >> Send EPA a message to maintain critical PFAS protections The EPA’s decision on whether to defend these rules comes at a time when public opinion on clean water has never been more clear – nobody wants to drink poisoned water.
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