A
new study
Sydney Evans, an analyst with the EWG, said that levels of many of the chemicals listed in the report frequently fall well within federal limits or that no regulated limits exist for other chemicals. But, she said, that’s the problem.
“Legal does not necessarily equal safe,” Evans said. “The latest research shows that many of the existing legal limits or maximum contaminant levels allow contaminant levels that can be harmful for children, for pregnant women and for other vulnerable populations, as well as the population at large.”
The report, which was released Wednesday, says the state’s largest provider of water, the
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
Officials with the MWRA released a statement reiterating that they meet all federal EPA and state DEP drinking water standards and that "in the vast majority of cases cannot even detect the contaminants. And when they are detected, MWRA is typically well below the standards."
"Our goal is to be as close to zero as reasonably possible," the statement continued. "Our customers should continue to have confidence in the water we provide."
The EWG report
recommends water filters
“The burden shouldn't be on the individual to filter out these contaminants,” she said. “What we really need to see is review of these legal limits in light of the latest health-based science and then ultimately … if we can keep these contaminants out of source water, then there's less burden on the community water system and on the individuals on down the line to remove these contaminants.”
The report lists
Bellingham's water system
“We did have a disinfection byproduct rule violation in the recent past and have returned to compliance,” DiMartino said in an email to WGBH News. He explained that because the regulations measure violations based on an annual average, it took some time before it became clear that the town was once again in compliance.
“During that time, and whenever we have any water quality questions, we immediately contact and work closely with the Mass Department of Environmental Protection staff at the Central Regional Office,” he said. “They assist us in proper notification to the public and guide our efforts to return to compliance per Mass Drinking Water Regulations.”