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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Empowering communities and spurring governmental action to stop and clean up PFAS pollution

Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc. (
Non-governmental organization (NGO)
)
#SDGAction49619
    Description
    Description
    In 2022, Waterkeeper Alliance worked with 113 U.S. Waterkeeper groups to engage in the first of its kind nationwide survey of surface waters for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). In that study, at least one species of 35 different PFAS chemicals was detected in 83 percent of the 114 waterways tested, and lesser known PFAS chemicals were found to be prevalent at many of the monitored locations. In some places, the level of contamination was thousands to hundreds of thousands times higher than what EPA experts indicate is safe for drinking water. Building on the success of this 2022 surface water monitoring project in the United States, Waterkeeper Alliance and partners will work to enhance monitoring, data collection, and effective regulation and remediation of PFAS pollution in global waterways and to improve our collective understanding of the extent and levels of these long-lived toxic contaminants. PFAS are toxic to people, wildlife, and aquatic life even at very low concentrations and, due to the largely unregulated and widespread use of PFAS for many decades, it is widely expected that PFAS are present in most surface waters. Unfortunately, there has been very limited monitoring or regulation of PFAS contamination in surface waters, many of which are used for drinking, swimming, and fishing around the world. To meet the urgency of the moment and scale of the problem, we need high quality, scientifically sound water quality monitoring and data analysis from waterways around the world. For this initiative, assuming funding can be secured, Waterkeeper Alliance will work with Waterkeeper groups and partners in at least 10 countries to identify and evaluate surface water PFAS contamination associated with high priority wastewater treatment systems and manufacturer dischargers using publicly available data sources; through application of environmental justice screening tools; and by employing state of the art passive water quality sampling of surface waters, effluent discharges, and sludge application site runoff in partnership with SiREM. To our knowledge, this will be another first-of-its-kind monitoring project that will produce more representative data on PFAS equilibrium concentrations that better relate to bioavailability, toxicity, and risk assessment models than conventional grab samples. This approach will generate information and tools to support community and governmental action to (1) establish protective regulatory limits on PFAS; (2) direct infrastructure funding to highly contaminated areas with major dischargers, and to areas with disparate impacts on indigenous and environmental justice communities; and (3) create methods, resources, and tools - in multiple languages - via an online learning platform for Waterkeeper groups and other community-based organizations to utilize in their monitoring and in seeking government action on PFAS contamination. To further strengthen these policy goals, Waterkeeper Alliance will also work with professors and students at University of California, Davis, to conduct a typology and network analysis to improve coordination and expand power at the local level. Upon conclusion of the initiative, we will create communications materials to describe the extent of the problem and will present the report at a future UN Water Conference.
    Expected Impact
    Despite the well-known dangers of PFAS to people and the environment, government action to monitor, control, and clean up PFAS pollution in surface waters has been wholly inadequate to protect public health, communities, and ecosystems. For example, in the United States, there are nearly 30,000 facilities discharging PFAS into surface waters, but there are currently no federal regulatory standards for controlling and remediating PFAS. This failure to regulate PFAS pollution has resulted in widespread contamination and created an urgent need for municipal wastewater and drinking water facilities to upgrade their systems with expensive treatment technologies to remove PFAS that ratepayers cannot afford. As is the case with other toxic pollution, the impacts of these failures are likely being borne disproportionately by indigenous and environmental justice communities. This initiative will activate the Waterkeeper movement and a partner network to expand knowledge of PFAS pollution, demonstrate scientifically-sound monitoring methods for documenting PFAS contamination, and advance efforts to increase governmental controls on the release and cleanup of PFAS pollution. Waterkeeper Alliance will prioritize monitoring with Waterkeeper groups located in countries with waterways that are expected to be highly contaminated by PFAS, have PFAS contamination that disproportionately impacts indigenous and environmental justice communities, and have documented needs for regulatory standards to control and clean up this pollution. This type of monitoring will start to fill in the massive data gaps for PFAS contamination of surface waters and help direct attention to polluted areas that most urgently need governmental action on regulatory standards and infrastructure. As information becomes available about the extent and levels of PFAS contamination in highly impacted areas, governments can make decisions about banning or limiting the use of dangerous chemicals and improve regulation and management practices to clean up existing pollution and prevent future harms. In addition, this data can lead to measures such as fish consumption guidance and wastewater and drinking water treatment that can improve community health by lessening human exposure to sources of toxic PFAS pollution. Data collected in this initiative will be presented in a way that supports community action and inspires an appropriately protective governmental response. The scientifically sound collection of data on PFAS pollution in this initiative will also generate partnership opportunities for the development of collaborative solutions to this complex problem and demonstrate innovative and reliable water quality monitoring methods that can be employed by others to expand sampling and knowledge, which is urgently needed for PFAS.
    Partners

    More than 300 Waterkeeper Groups in more than 45 countries with more than 1.1 million volunteers; Environmental Working Group; Southern Environmental Law Center;
    Earthjustice

    Additional information
    Website: Waterkeeper Alliance PFAS - https://waterkeeper.org/pfas/ Report: Invisible, Unbreakable, Unnatural: PFAS Contamination of U.S. Surface Waters - https://waterkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Waterkeeper-Alliance-PFAS-Report-FINAL-10.14.22.pdf

    Goal 6

    Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

    Goal 6

    6.1

    By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

    6.1.1

    Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services

    6.2

    By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations

    6.2.1

    Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water

    6.3

    By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally

    6.3.1

    Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated

    6.3.2

    Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality

    6.4

    By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity
    6.4.1

    Change in water-use efficiency over time

    6.4.2

    Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources

    6.5

    By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate

    6.5.1

    Degree of integrated water resources management 

    6.5.2

    Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation

    6.6

    By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes
    6.6.1

    Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time

    6.a

    By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies
    6.a.1

    Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan

    6.b

    Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management

    6.b.1

    Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management

    Name Description
    Project scope and fundraising plan
    North America and Latin America watersheds monitoring and assessment plan
    Asia and Africa watersheds monitoring and assessment plan
    Community Health and Waterway Assessment Report
    Financing (in USD)
    Waterkeeper Alliance will work to identify sources of funding to implement the project. Approximate scope $2M USD / 4years.
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Waterkeeper Alliance and Waterkeeper groups possess extensive technical expertise in water quality monitoring, regulation, and laws. Waterkeeper Alliance has a long history of working on water quality-related problems, monitoring, and initia
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Successful completion of a similar PFAS monitoring project in 34 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in 2022 is an example of Waterkeeper Alliance’s approach and expertise.
    In-kind contribution
    SiREM is expected to offer delivery of PFASsive™ samplers, as well as analytical chemistry costs, equilibrium calculations upon completion of data acquisition, report generation, virtual training for deployment/retrieval, and expert data analysis.
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    30 June 2023 (start date)
    31 May 2027 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc.
    SDGs
    Region
    1. Africa
    2. Europe
    3. Asia and Pacific
    4. North America
    5. Latin America and the Caribbean
    Other beneficiaries

    Individuals (drinking water); communities; drinking water and wastewater utilities; governments; commercial, recreational, and sustenance fishing individuals and entities; and recreational water users.

    More information
    Countries
    United States of America
    United States of America
    Contact Information

    Marc, Chief Executive Officer