What’s next for regulating drinking water against forever chemicals in West Virginia?

MASON COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – Forever chemicals, otherwise known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), have been detected in treated water at 19 water systems throughout West Virginia above the U.S. EPA’s new maximum contaminant level. The list includes the New Haven Water Department in Mason County.

That’s according to state data released last year , but some residents are now wondering what’s been done to rectify the situation since that study was conducted.

“We have been very open, we do let people know and luckily our testing did come back very very low on the spectrum,” said Teresa Gibbs, New Haven Water and Wastewater Operator. “So far, we’re pretty much at a standstill. We haven’t had really anything new, nothing hard fast set yet; so, we just kind of keep waiting to get information.”

Even though the West Virginia Department of Health said they meet regularly with public water systems to assist them in meeting compliance with new regulations; Gibbs said the process has been delayed because of funding.

Due to the town’s water source being groundwater, she said they’ll have to start from ground zero to build a treatment plant equipped to filter forever chemicals. An engineer has been hired, but she said that process could cost millions of dollars.

While they wait for federal funds, Gibbs said another source of funding they’re looking at is the class action lawsuits they’re a part of against the manufacturers of forever chemicals.

“We’re working the best we can. We’re really hoping maybe some of these [class action] lawsuits will help us and we can get started on building that plant so we can get to a zero level that all the customers can feel confident and safe,” Gibbs said. “There’s always going to be a little worry there; so, we would love to be able to take that completely out of the equation for them so we’re hoping to get there soon.”

While some residents told 13 News they’re not concerned for their health, others said they still don’t drink from the tap due to the issue, as well as previous issues with the New Haven public water system.

According to Gibbs, the system serves about 700 customers in New Haven and anywhere from 200 to 300 customers in Hartford. Even though environmentalists say forever chemicals can cause negative health effects overtime, Gibbs assures residents that their water is safe to consume.

“There is PFAS in so many things not just your drinking water like all your clothes, your children’s toys, carpets, pots and pans like it’s in everything,” Gibbs said. “So, I think once people realized that, they weren’t as scared of the water and with our low amounts that we have it hasn’t been the biggest concern for people. But they’re definitely concerned and we definitely want to get this plant built so we can take all of that out.”

According to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition and WVDEP received a $1 million grant from EPA in April 2024 to “identify and confirm PFAS sources in specific areas and develop PFAS action plans through public engagement.”

However, according to West Virginia Rivers Coalition, the worst contamination areas like the Eastern Panhandle and the Ohio River Valley will be the first to be addressed.

The West Virginia Department of Health said additional sampling for the treated drinking water of more than 100 public water systems that had detections of the select PFAS below the reporting level will be conducted in the next couple of months.

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