EPA Faces Backlash Over Drinking Water Monitoring Plan
Summary
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new drinking water monitoring plan that does not include microplastics. Despite pressure from many organizations, governors, and attorneys general, the EPA's latest draft leaves microplastics out of the monitoring program that will run from 2028 to 2030.Key Facts
- The EPA’s plan is called the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6).
- UCMR 6 sets which contaminants public water systems must check between 2028 and 2030.
- Microplastics are small plastic particles, from 5 millimeters to 1 nanometer in size.
- Many groups and officials, including 176 organizations, 7 governors, and 14 attorneys general, asked the EPA to include microplastics in the plan.
- The EPA says it bases its decisions on scientific methods that produce reliable national data.
- The EPA’s proposal was signed by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin under President Donald Trump’s administration.
- Health and Human Services is funding a $144 million research project to study microplastics’ health effects.
- Including contaminants in UCMR does not mean new rules will happen, but it provides data for future decisions.
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