Commentary: PFAS and the Rural Implementation Gap

Clean water should not depend on your ZIP code, yet for many rural communities, the discovery of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) can trigger an immediate crisis. Small towns often rely on a single drinking water source. If that lone source tests positive for "forever chemicals," which are commonly found in many consumer products, the lack of a backup drinking water source can increase the vulnerabilities of small communities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that over 90% of U.S. drinking water systems across the country serve populations of fewer than 10,000. As one industry analysis warns, drinking water systems across America face a mounting PFAS threat, with vastly different response capacities...