Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List - Draft; Notice of Availability

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) supports the EPA's inclusion of PFAS and microplastics on the Draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6). They advocate for a science-based approach that prioritizes the development of standardized testing methodologies, clear definitions, and collaborative research with the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) supports the inclusion of various contaminants, including PFAS, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals, on the Draft Contaminant Candidate List 6. They advocate for a science-based, transparent regulatory process and request specific actions regarding research, analytical methods, and resource allocation for state agencies.

Oceana, an environmental advocacy organization, supports the inclusion of microplastics on the Contaminant Candidate List but argues that the action is insufficient. They urge the EPA and HHS to take more aggressive regulatory actions, including upstream plastic reduction, regulating preproduction plastic pellets, and banning specific toxic plastic polymers and single-use foodware.

The Attorney General of Missouri, representing fourteen other states, requests that the EPA amend the 6th Contaminant Candidate List to include the abortion drug mifepristone and its generics. They argue that the drug is an endocrine disruptor that persists in the water supply and poses significant health risks to pregnant women and the general public.

Waterkeepers Chesapeake, a nonprofit coalition of sixteen Waterkeeper programs, supports the inclusion of PFAS and microplastics on the Draft Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List 6. However, they argue that the EPA must move beyond mere recognition to establish enforceable national primary drinking water regulations and strengthen existing protections against these contaminants.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) supports the EPA's draft Contaminant Candidate List 6, noting its value in identifying research priorities for emerging contaminants. However, the agency urges the EPA to prioritize clarity and feasibility, specifically requesting more research on microplastics and more specific criteria for identifying pharmaceuticals to ensure the list is scientifically actionable.

Cherise Petker, founder of Circular Solar LLC, supports the EPA's efforts to address microplastics and PFAS but emphasizes the need for remediation solutions that do not disrupt critical technologies. She proposes the use of her company's integrated remediation systems and workforce development programs to manage pollution and mitigate environmental impacts.

Ocean Conservancy supports the inclusion of microplastics in the Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) 6 and urges the EPA to prioritize future actions to address microplastic pollution. They argue that microplastics are commonly detected in drinking water, may have adverse human health effects, and require further monitoring and upstream mitigation efforts.

The San Diego State University Center for Tobacco and the Environment urges the EPA to include nicotine and cotinine in the national drinking-water monitoring framework. They argue that tobacco product waste is a significant source of contamination and that current data gaps necessitate national monitoring to identify risks and environmental inequities.

A coalition of 31 environmental and health advocacy groups supports the EPA's identification of microplastics as a drinking water priority and urges the agency to list them on the UCMR-6. They advocate for a robust research agenda focused on detection methodologies, source identification (such as plastic pipes), and long-term prevention strategies rather than just treatment.