Bill requires EPA reports on safe drinking water

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) is cheering the Drinking Water Protection Act, which passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee this week and was recently reintroduced in the Senate.  

{mosads}Developed in response to high micocystin levels in the Western Lake Erie Basin, the bill would direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish a health advisory and submit reports on what level of toxins in drinking water are expected to be safe for human consumption.

Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are sponsoring the legislation, which unanimously passed the upper chamber in December 2014.

“We commend Senators Portman and Brown for helping to protect America’s drinking water from cyanotoxins caused by harmful algal blooms,” the ACC said in a statement.

“A strategic plan will improve coordination among federal agencies and facilitate consultation with key authorities, including public water systems, research institutions and companies that provide relevant water treatment options.”

According to the EPA, cyanotoxins affect the nervous system, liver and skin. High levels in recreational and drinking water can cause fever, headaches, muscle and joint pain, blisters, stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, mouth ulcers and allergic reactions. In severe cases, people have suffered from seizures, liver failure, respiratory arrest and, in rare instances, death.