EPA proposes regulations on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water, including Roanoke Valley sources Laurence Hammack Mar 14, 2023 Mar 14, 2023 Updated Apr 20, 2024 0 TRT The granulated activated carbon filtration building at Spring Hollow Water Treatment Facility. SCOTT P. YATES, The Roanoke Times Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Laurence Hammack The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a national drinking standard for so-called 'forever chemicals.' kAmp ?2E:@?2= 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C DE2?52C5 :D 36:?8 AC@A@D65 7@C 2 8C@FA @7 “7@C6G6C 496>:42=D[” :?4=F5:?8 @?6 4@?E2>:?2?E E92E C6>2:?D :? E96 #@2?@<6 #:G6C 2?5 $AC:?8 w@==@H C6D6CG@:C 2E =6G6=D 9:896C E92? H92E :D 4@?D:56C65 D276 7@C 9F>2? 4@?DF>AE:@?]k^AmkAm%96 t?G:C@?>6?E2= !C@E64E:@? p86?4J @? %F6D52J F?G6:=65 C68F=2E:@?D E92E H@F=5 C6BF:C6 AF3=:4 H2E6C FE:=:E:6D E@ E6DE 7@C E96 >2?\>256 496>:42=D 2?5 E2<6 DE6AD E@ C65F46 2?J 4@?46?EC2E:@?D E92E 6I4665 :ED =:>:ED] %96 CF=6D 4@F=5 36 2AAC@G65 =2E6C E9:D J62C]k^AmkAmx? E96 #@2?@<6 '2==6J[ E6DED 7:CDE 56E64E65 v6?) — 2 962E\ 2?5 H2E6C\C6D:DE2?E 496>:42= FD65 :? E96 >2?F724EFC6 @7 >2?J 4@?DF>6C AC@5F4ED — :? $AC:?8 w@==@H’D H2E6C E9C66 J62CD 28@]k^Am People are also reading… Rocky Mount man charged with killing his brother Franklin County considers 7-cent real estate tax increase Kids invited to annual Cops and Bobbers event by Rocky Mount PD Smith Mountain Lake saw increase in boating incidents and deaths in 2025 Chip Sullivan, golfer and instructor 'loved by so many,' dies at 61 2 Franklin County softball players among those to watch in Southwest Virginia Budget woes complicate residents' push for new dog park in Franklin County Martinsville to scrap purchasing cards after scrutiny of $1.4M in spending Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Roanoke County family files lawsuit against VHSL, school board over homeschool sports rule Cyanobacteria up in Smith Mountain Lake, but no harmful algal blooms last year This Rocky Mount police dog focuses on head pats instead of patrols Volunteers needed for Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour Spanberger signs 22 bills, including one concerning pharmacy benefit managers Trump signs order directing creation of a national voter list, a move already facing lawsuit threats kAm{2E6 =2DE J62C[ E96 D@FC46 H2D EC2465 FADEC62> E@ 2? t==:DE@? 4@>A2?J E92E 925 366? 9:C65 E@ 4=62? :?5FDEC:2= 6BF:A>6?E 7C@> %96 r96>@FCD r@][ H9:49 >2<6D v6?) 2E 2 (6DE ':C8:?:2 A=2?E]k^AmkAmp=E9@F89 E96 C6=62D6 @7 v6?)\E2:?E65 H2DE6H2E6C :?E@ E96 $@FE9 u@C< @7 E96 #@2?@<6 #:G6C 92D D:?46 366? DE@AA65[ AC@3=6>D H:E9 2 496>:42= E92E 5@6D?’E ?2EFC2==J 3C62< 5@H? 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ =:?86C 7@C J62CD]k^AmkAm&?56C E96 t!p DE2?52C5D C6=62D65 %F6D52J[ E96 2==@H23=6 =6G6= @7 v6?) H@F=5 36 ?@ >@C6 E92? `_ A2CED A6C EC:==:@? 7@C E96 (6DE6C? ':C8:?:2 (2E6C pFE9@C:EJ[ H9:49 @H?D 2?5 @A6C2E6D $AC:?8 w@==@H 2D 2 D@FC46 @7 E96 #@2?@<6 '2==6J’D AF3=:4 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C]k^Am kAmr@?46?EC2E:@?D @7 v6?) 92G6 366? 2D 9:89 2D ea A2CED A6C EC:==:@? :? $AC:?8 w@==@H[ `bh A2CED A6C EC:==:@? :? E96 25;246?E #@2?@<6 #:G6C H96C6 H2E6C :D AF>A65 :?E@ E96 #@2?@<6 r@F?EJ C6D6CG@:C[ 2?5 ab[h__ A2CED A6C EC:==:@? 23@FE 7:G6 >:=6D FADEC62>[ H96C6 EC62E65 H2DE6H2E6C 4@?E2:?:?8 E96 496>:42= H2D C6=62D65 :?E@ E96 C:G6C’D $@FE9 u@C<]k^AmkAmp 42C3@? 7:=E6C:?8 DJDE6> 2E $AC:?8 w@==@H 3C@F89E E96 =6G6=D @7 EC62E65 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C 5@H? E@ 2D =@H 2D ` A2CE A6C EC:==:@? =2DE pF8FDE]k^AmkAmw@H6G6C[ E96 24E:G2E65 8C2?F=2C 42C3@? BF:4<=J =@D6D :ED 23:=:EJ E@ 3@?5 H:E9 E96 v6?) E92E A2DD6D E9C@F89 E96 7:=E6C:?8 DJDE6>] %92E =65 2 8C25F2= :?4C62D6 :? E96 =6G6=D[ E@ 2D 9:89 2D cc A2CED A6C EC:==:@? @? u63] `_[ E96 >@DE C646?E 52E6 7@C H9:49 E6DE C6DF=ED 2C6 2G2:=23=6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ H2E6C 2FE9@C:EJ DA@<6DH@>2? $2C29 q2F>82C5?6C]k^Am kAmp C6A=246>6?E @7 E96 42C3@? — ag_[___ A@F?5D E92E H:== 7:== EH@ G6DD6=D :? E96 7:=E6C:?8 DJDE6> — H2D @C56C65 =2DE ~4E@36C] xE C646?E=J 2CC:G65 2?5 :?DE2==2E:@? 3682? |@?52J[ q2F>82C5?6C D2:5 %F6D52J]k^AmkAmrFDE@>6CD >2J ?@E:46 2 D=:89E 5:D4@=@C2E:@? @7 E96:C H2E6C H9:=6 E96 42C3@? :D :?DE2==65] qFE E92E D9@F=5 36 E6>A@C2CJ[ 2?5 H2E6C BF2=:EJ :D 6IA64E65 E@ C6EFC? E@ 36=@H E96 t!p DE2?52C5 @?46 E96 ;@3 :D 4@>A=6E65 =2E6C E9:D H66<]k^AmkAmp== @7 E96 24E:@?D AC@A@D65 3J E96 t!p 2C6 2=C625J 36:?8 E2<6? 3J E96 H2E6C 2FE9@C:EJ[ 244@C5:?8 E@ q2F>82C5?6C]k^Am kAm“%96 (6DE6C? ':C8:?:2 (2E6C pFE9@C:EJ :D 4@>>:EE65 E@ E6DE:?8 2?5 EC62E>6?E E92E H:== 2==@H FD E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ >66E 2== E96 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C DE2?52C5D 6DE23=:D965 3J E96 t?G:C@?>6?E2= !C@E64E:@? p86?4J 2?5 56=:G6C 2 BF2=:EJ AC@5F4E E@ @FC 4FDE@>6CD[” D96 HC@E6 :? 2? 6>2:=]k^Am kAmw@H6G6C[ E96 DE2?52C5D 2??@F?465 %F6D52J H:== 36 6?7@C4623=6 @?46 E96J E2<6 67764E — F?=:<6 E96 t!p’D 962=E9 25G:D@CJ :DDF65 =2DE yF?6 E92E C64@>>6?565 2 =:76E:>6 4@?DF>AE:@? @7 ?@ >@C6 E92? `_ A2CED A6C EC:==:@?[ H9:49 :D 567:?65 2D 2 f_\J62C\@=5 5C:?<:?8 EH@ =:E6CD @7 H2E6C 2 52J]k^Am kAmt!p D2:5 :ED AC@A@D65 C68F=2E:@?D 7@C v6?) 2?5 7:G6 @E96C 7@C6G6C 496>:42=D[ @C !up$ 7@C A6C\ 2?5 A@=J7=F@C@2=<J= DF3DE2?46D[ H:== AC6G6?E E9@FD2?5D @7 562E9D 2?5 6G6? >@C6 :==?6DD6D 7C@> E96 92C>7F= 4@>A@F?5D — H9:49 92G6 366? :? 6I:DE6?46 D:?46 E96 `hc_D[ 3FE 92G6 @?=J C646?E=J 4@>6 F?56C D4CFE:?J]k^AmkAm“r@>>F?:E:6D 24C@DD E9:D 4@F?ECJ 92G6 DF776C65 72C E@@ =@?8 7C@> E96 6G6C\AC6D6?E E9C62E @7 !up$ A@==FE:@?[” t!p p5>:?:DEC2E@C |:4926= #682? D2:5 :? E96 2??@F?46>6?E]k^Am kAm%96 AC@A@D2= H@F=5 D6E DEC:4E =:>:ED @7 c A2CED A6C EC:==:@?[ E96 =@H6DE =6G6= E92E 42? 36 C6=:23=J >62DFC65[ 7@C EH@ 4@>>@? EJA6D @7 !up$ 4@>A@F?5D 42==65 !u~p 2?5 !u~$] x? 255:E:@?[ E96 t!p H2?ED E@ C68F=2E6 E96 4@>3:?65 2>@F?E @7 7@FC @E96C EJA6D @7 7@C6G6C 496>:42=D E92E :?4=F56 v6?)[ E96 EC256 ?2>6 7@C 96I27=F@C@AC@AJ=6?6 @I:56 5:>6C 24:5]k^Am kAm%96 2==@H23=6 =6G6= 7@C E96 7@FC 496>:42=D H@F=5 36 2 C2E:@ @7 ?@ >@C6 E92? `[ E@ 36 56E6C>:?65 3J BF2CE6C=J E6DE:?8] qFE 3642FD6 v6?) :D E96 @?=J @?6 @7 E96 7@FC 496>:42=D E@ 36 56E64E65 :? $AC:?8 w@==@H 2?5 E96 #@2?@<6 #:G6C[ E96 >2I:>F> =6G6= 7@C E96 H2E6C 2FE9@C:EJ C6>2:?D 2E E96 `_ A2CED A6C EC:==:@? 6DE23=:D965 3J E96 962=E9 25G:D@CJ[ q2F>82C5?6C D2:5]k^AmkAm!F3=:4 4@>>6?ED @? E96 C68F=2E:@?D H:== 36 E2<6?[ 2?5 E96 t!p 42? >2<6 492?86D 367@C6 2 7:?2= CF=6 :D :DDF65]k^Am kAm%96 pDD@4:2E:@? @7 $E2E6 sC:?<:?8 (2E6C p5>:?:DEC2E@CD 42==65 E96 AC@A@D2= “2 DE6A :? E96 C:89E 5:C64E:@?” 3FE D2:5 4@>A=:2?46 H:== 36 492==6?8:?8] s6DA:E6 2G2:=23=6 7656C2= >@?6J[ “D:8?:7:42?E C2E6 :?4C62D6D H:== 36 C6BF:C65 7@C >@DE @7 E96 DJDE6>D” E92E >FDE C6>@G6 !up$[ E96 8C@FA D2:5 %F6D52J]k^Am kAmx? #@2?@<6[ E96 H2E6C 2FE9@C:EJ A=2?D E@ DA6?5 S`b]d >:==:@? E@ FA8C256 $AC:?8 w@==@H’D 42C3@? 7:=E6C:?8 DJDE6>[ 3FE D2JD E92E H@F=5 ?@E C6DF=E :? 9:896C 3:==D 7@C 4FDE@>6CD] s:D4FDD:@?D 2C6 F?56CH2J 23@FE A@E6?E:2= =682= 24E:@? E@ C64@G6C E96 4@DED]k^AmkAmt?G:C@?>6?E2= 2?5 AF3=:4 962=E9 25G@42E6D 92G6 42==65 7@C 7656C2= C68F=2E:@? @7 !up$ 496>:42=D 7@C J62CD] ~G6C E96 =2DE 564256[ E96 t!p 92D C6A62E65=J DEC6?8E96?65 :ED AC@E64E:G6[ G@=F?E2CJ 962=E9 E9C6D9@=5D 7@C E96 496>:42=D 3FE 92D ?@E :>A@D65 >2?52E@CJ =:>:ED @? H2E6C AC@G:56CD]k^Am kAmr@?46C? 92D :?4C62D65 :? C646?E J62CD 2D E6DE:?8 C6G62=D !up$ 496>:42=D :? 2 8C@H:?8 =:DE @7 4@>>F?:E:6D E92E 2C6 @7E6? ?62C >2?F724EFC:?8 A=2?ED @C &]$] p:C u@C46 32D6D]k^Am kAm&?E:= ?@H[ @?=J 2 92?57F= @7 DE2E6D 92G6 :DDF65 !up$ C68F=2E:@?D[ 2?5 ?@?6 92D D6E =:>:ED 2D DEC:4E 2D H92E E96 t!p :D AC@A@D:?8] x? ':C8:?:2[ 2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 w62=E9 H@C<8C@FA :D DEF5J:?8 >2I:>F> 4@?E2>:?2?E =6G6=D[ 3FE ?@ 7:?2= 24E:@? 92D 366? E2<6?]k^AmkAm%6DE:?8 @G6CD66? 3J 'sw =@@<65 7@C 7@C6G6C 496>:42=D :? cd AF3=:4 H2E6C FE:=:E:6D 24C@DD E96 DE2E6] %96 9:896DE 4@?46?EC2E:@? H2D 7@F?5 2E $AC:?8 w@==@H]k^AmkAmp=E9@F89 E96 DE2E6 5@6D ?@E 92G6 2FE9@C:EJ E@ C6BF:C6 E6DED @7 AC:G2E6 H6==D[ 962=E9 56A2CE>6?E @77:4:2=D D2J E96J 2C6 A=2??:?8 E@ @776C G@=F?E2CJ D2>A=:?8 @7 H6==H2E6C 2E 9@>6D 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D 4=@D6 E@ $AC:?8 w@==@H 2?5 !C@r96>[ E96 4@>A2?J :? t==:DE@? E92E H2D E96 @C:8:? @7 4@?E2>:?2E:@?]k^Am kAmqJ C68F=2E:?8 !u~p 2?5 !u~$ 2E E96 >:?:>F> 2>@F?ED E92E E6DED 42? 56E64E[ E96 t!p :D AC@A@D:?8 E96 E:89E6DE A@DD:3=6 DE2?52C5D E92E 2C6 E649?:42==J 762D:3=6 7@C AF3=:4 H2E6C[ 6IA6CED D2:5]k^AmkAm“%9:D :D 2 C62==J 9:DE@C:4 >@>6?E[” D2:5 |6=2?:6 q6?6D9[ G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 8@G6C?>6?E 2772:CD 2E E96 t?G:C@?>6?E2= (@C<:?8 vC@FA] “%96C6 2C6 >2?J 4@>>F?:E:6D E92E 92G6 925 !up$ :? E96:C H2E6C 7@C 564256D H9@ 92G6 366? H2:E:?8 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6 7@C E9:D 2??@F?46>6?E E@ 4@>6 @FE]”k^AmkAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 t!p[ D4:6?E:7:4 DEF5:6D 92G6 =:?<65 !up$ E@ 2 ?F>36C @7 962=E9 C:D<Di =:G6C 4@>A=:42E:@?Dj AC@DE2E6[ <:5?6J 2?5 E6DE:4F=2C 42?46CDj 52>286 E@ :>>F?6 DJDE6>Dj :?4C62D65 49@=6DE6C@= =6G6=Dj 2?5 :>A24ED E@ AC68?2?E H@>6? E92E :?4=F56 564C62D65 76CE:=:EJ 2?5 9:89 3=@@5 AC6DDFC6]k^Am kAm~?6 4@>A=:42E:?8 724E@C :? 56E6C>:?:?8 C:D< :D E96 =2C86 ?F>36C @7 !up$ — 6DE:>2E65 2E >@C6 E92? e[___ — 2?5 E96 G2C:6EJ @7 H2JD A6@A=6 42? 36 6IA@D65 E@ E96>]k^AmkAm%96 496>:42=D 2C6 FD65 :? E96 >2?F724EFC6 @7 2 H:56 C2?86 @7 AC@5F4ED E92E :?4=F56 ?@?DE:4< 4@@< H62C[ H2E6CAC@@7 4=@E9:?8[ 72DE 7@@5 4@?E2:?6CD[ FA9@=DE6CJ[ 42CA6ED[ 7:C67:89E:?8 7@2>D[ A2:?ED[ 4@D>6E:4D 2?5 56?E2= 7=@DD]k^Am The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a national drinking standard for so-called 'forever chemicals.' kAm$:?46 ?6HD @7 v6?) :? =@42= H2E6CD 3C@<6 =2DE DF>>6C[ E96 q=F6 #:586 t?G:C@?>6?E2= s676?D6 {628F6 92D 366? 7@==@H:?8 E96 :DDF6 4=@D6=J]k^Am kAm“%9:D :D 2 D>2== DE6A E@ AC@E64E AF3=:4 962=E9 — 9@H6G6C >F49 >@C6 C6>2:?D E@ 36 5@?6[” E96 =628F6 D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E %F6D52J] “uC2?<=J[ E96D6 496>:42=D D9@F=5 36 32??65]”k^Am kAm$F49 2? :562 :D =:<6=J E@ 7246 :?5FDECJ @AA@D:E:@?]k^AmkAm%96 p>6C:42? r96>:DECJ r@F?4:=[ H9:49 C6AC6D6?ED =2C86 496>:42= 4@>A2?:6D[ D=2>>65 H92E :E 42==65 t!p’D “>:D8F:565 2AAC@249” 2?5 D2:5[ “E96D6 =@H =:>:ED H:== =:<6=J C6DF=E :? 3:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD :? 4@>A=:2?46 4@DED]’’k^Am kAmx? 2 DE2E6>6?E %F6D52J[ E96 8C@FA D2:5 :E 92D “D6C:@FD 4@?46C?D H:E9 E96 F?56C=J:?8 D4:6?46 FD65 E@ 56G6=@A” E96 AC@A@D65 CF=6[ 255:?8i “xE’D 4C:E:42= E92E t!p 86ED E96 D4:6?46 C:89E]’’k^Am kAmr96>@FCD 92D 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E :? 56E2:= E@ %96 #@2?@<6 %:>6D 23@FE E96 5:D4@G6CJ @7 v6?) =@42==J[ 6I46AE E@ D2J :E H2D 4@@A6C2E:?8 H:E9 :?G6DE:82E:@?D 3J E96 H2E6C 2FE9@C:EJ 2?5 E96 ':C8:?:2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?G:C@?>6?E2= "F2=:EJ]k^Am kAm%96 4@>A2?J 92D 7:=65 2 =2HDF:E[ 4FCC6?E=J A6?5:?8 367@C6 E96 bC5 &]$] r:C4F:E r@FCE @7 pAA62=D[ 2DD6CE:?8 E92E E96 t!p’D 962=E9 25G:D@C:6D H6C6 7=2H65] “%96 286?4J 5:DC682C565 C6=6G2?E 52E2 2?5 :?4@CA@C2E65 8C@DD=J :?4@CC64E 2?5 @G6CDE2E65 6IA@DFC6 2DDF>AE:@?D[” r96>@FCD D2:5 :? 2 ?6HD C6=62D6 H96? E96 42D6 H2D 7:=65 =2DE DF>>6C]k^Am kAm|62?H9:=6[ E96 H2E6C 2FE9@C:EJ 92D DE@AA65 AF>A:?8 H2E6C 7C@> E96 #@2?@<6 #:G6C E@ 7:== $AC:?8 w@==@H] tG6? D@[ :E :D 6IA64E65 E@ E2<6 2D =@?8 2D 7@FC J62CD 367@C6 E96 C6D6CG@:C :D v6?\) 7C66]k^Am Some information in this story came from The Associated Press. 0 comments Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Laurence Hammack Author email Follow Laurence Hammack Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Contaminant levels at Spring Hollow reservoir back up, water tests show The increase in a "forever chemical" is expected to be temporary, with replacements for a carbon filtering system on the way. Watch Now: Related Video A1 Minute! April 2, 2026: Hack for RVA; DuPont sells divisions; Virginia Tourism, Devils Backbone link up The 10 safest cities in the United States The 10 safest cities in the United States A1 Minute! March 25, 2026: Ram’s sports investment; Dr. Winn moves onto Philadelphia; Cannabis laws may change A1 Minute! March 25, 2026: Ram’s sports investment; Dr. Winn moves onto Philadelphia; Cannabis laws may change A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute
Laurence Hammack Author email Follow Laurence Hammack Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Contaminant levels at Spring Hollow reservoir back up, water tests show The increase in a "forever chemical" is expected to be temporary, with replacements for a carbon filtering system on the way.
A1 Minute! April 2, 2026: Hack for RVA; DuPont sells divisions; Virginia Tourism, Devils Backbone link up
A1 Minute! March 25, 2026: Ram’s sports investment; Dr. Winn moves onto Philadelphia; Cannabis laws may change
A1 Minute! March 25, 2026: Ram’s sports investment; Dr. Winn moves onto Philadelphia; Cannabis laws may change
A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute
A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute
