While many Americans recall April 8 as the day of an extraordinary solar eclipse, for Tony Spaniola, a more significant event occurred two days later.

On April 10, Spaniola joined a small group of activists in a grand White House office, excitedly watching as officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced historic regulations on “forever chemicals” in drinking water.

“It felt surreal, almost like an out-of-body experience,” the water safety advocate recalled.

“Just a few years prior, no one would engage with me. Now, here I am at the White House witnessing this moment. It’s actually happening,” said Spaniola, a 66-year-old lawyer residing near Detroit.

Numerous grassroots organizations have formed around military bases, chemical manufacturing sites, and other areas where PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have contaminated the environment. These hazardous, man-made substances are resistant to natural breakdown in the environment or human bodies, and some studies link them to a higher risk of cancer and other serious illnesses.

MAP: Locations of Water Systems Reporting PFAS Contamination

According to Spaniola, the EPA’s announcement of these limits marked a significant moment for many activists concerned about PFAS.

However, some, including Spaniola, express concerns regarding possible reductions in PFAS monitoring and regulation with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, highlighting a previous lack of urgency and the sidelining of a PFAS health study during Trump’s first term.

Spaniola also cited the Project 2025 initiative, which recommends changes to groundwater cleanup regulations and reconsidering the classification of PFAS as hazardous substances.

Trump has attempted to dissociate himself from the conservative policy suggestions of Project 2025, which were crafted by close associates, including former officials from his first administration.

“We’re worried that things may shift and possibly undo the progress we’ve made,” Spaniola expressed, adding that he is open to conversations with the new administration. Nevertheless, during Trump’s earlier time in office, “we didn’t sense the urgency or openness to addressing our concerns that we experienced under the Biden administration.”

This reversal might jeopardize a decade of advancements achieved by grassroots groups as they have called for accountability from polluters and solutions for polluted water nationwide.

Recent data from the EPA reveals that nearly 500 cities might soon need to implement changes to adhere to the new PFAS drinking water regulations, highlighting the urgency felt by activists.

This data marks the most extensive effort by the EPA to monitor PFAS contamination levels in drinking water to date. For close to two years, public water systems have been required to test for 29 varieties of these persistent chemicals.

“We now have powerful data to reference,” Spaniola said regarding the latest EPA records. “This information is certainly helpful in our advocacy, but we’re still in the early stages of utilizing it effectively.”

An analysis by YSL News of the latest EPA data found that 498 drinking water systems reported PFAS contamination levels above.

Under newly established regulations, water systems may need to implement expensive PFAS filtration systems or seek alternate drinking water sources by 2029, the target year for the EPA’s enforcement of these limits.

In the last two years, over 1,100 additional water systems have identified PFAS levels intermittently, though these were below the newly set limits on average. Additionally, approximately 750 more systems have discovered various other PFAS compounds, which have not yet been regulated.

As the EPA continues its sampling efforts over the coming year, more cities are expected to be added to these statistics. The agency estimates that potentially thousands of water systems may ultimately need to take measures to avert severe health risks for roughly 100 million Americans who depend on public water supplies.

The PFAS Fight is Now a Movement

For Spaniola, the struggle against these persistent chemicals started in 2016. Following an extensive investigation into PFAS emissions at the old Wurtsmith Air Force Base, the local health department advised Spaniola’s family against drinking the water from their lake property in Oscoda, Michigan.

He, along with concerned neighbors, established Need Our Water, a grassroots community action group that now has nearly 1,000 members on Facebook.

However, Spaniola’s efforts extended beyond Oscoda. He is now part of the leadership of the National PFAS Contamination Coalition, a grassroots organization comprising around 50 citizen groups from across the nation, including his own from Michigan.

“As communities start to grasp the issue and what is happening to them, it is evolving into a movement,” Spaniola shared. “The number of individuals who recognize this, feel outraged, and acknowledge the necessity of this long-term struggle is increasing.”

The coalition’s reach spans the country, from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

About ten years ago, in this coastal New England region, Andrea Amico, an occupational therapist and mother of three, was troubled to find PFAS contamination at the old Pease Air Force Base. This location had been transformed into an industrial park where her husband worked and her children went to daycare.

“It sparked a fire within me,” Amico recalled, leading her and two other mothers to co-found Testing for Pease, which advocates for community blood testing.

“They were exposed to highly contaminated water during critical developmental stages,” she stated. “This has caused me a lot of anxiety, fear, guilt, and frustration.”

Studies from the EPA and the CDC have linked PFAS exposure to developmental delays and changes in behavior among children and shown that these substances may hinder vaccine effectiveness. Further research indicates lasting chemicals can be passed to children through pregnancy or breastfeeding.

“I’ve come to realize that this issue does not only affect my family or community,” Amico said. “It’s countless other communities across the nation, filled with mothers and families who share similar worries and concerns.”

Generation Z at the Forefront of the Battle

Generation Z, particularly those in their teens to late 20s, is also alarmed. According to surveys from the Pew Research Center, this generation prioritizes addressing climate change and environmental issues more than older generations do.

In a Cincinnati suburb called Indian Hill, high schoolers Jack and Graham Kruse took action by founding their own nonprofit organization to raise awareness about PFAS contamination discovered in their kitchen tap and school water fountain in 2023.

“The levels were significantly elevated,” reported 15-year-old Graham Kruse, citing lab results that revealed PFAS concentrations three times above the newly established limits.

Teaming up with fellow high school students, the Kruse brothers explored possible sources of the PFAS contamination in their local aquifer. After visiting nearby water treatment facilities, they presented their findings to the Village Council in June to advocate for the protection of the 15,000 residents who depend on Indian Hill’s water supply.

“Our main goal was to find a quick solution,” Graham stated. “For each week we delay updating the municipal water filtration system, we risk consuming unsafe water containing PFAS, which negatively impacts people’s health.”

After a presentation from the Kruse brothers, all council members agreed to look into the installation of a sophisticated filtration system capable of lowering PFAS levels to meet the new EPA standards.

Ron Freson, Superintendent of Indian Hill Water Works, mentioned they have hired an engineering firm to evaluate potential treatment methods, with an initial estimated cost of around $23 million. Most customers might see an increase of $5 on their bills each month to fund these improvements, but Freson indicated that more precise cost estimates would emerge after further study.

Freson also noted that the final expense would hinge on whether Indian Hill secures any financial grants from the Ohio EPA or receives compensation from class-action suits against PFAS producers.

Last summer, major manufacturers like 3M and DuPont reached settlements to pay billions to public water authorities in connection with PFAS contamination lawsuits, while chemical manufacturer BASF resolved its case for over $300 million earlier this year.

Although 3M was set to start distributing payments this fall, the company has up to 13 years to complete these payments, making it challenging for Freson to predict the timing of the funds.

“Five years may seem lengthy,” noted Freson, alluding to the time allowed to comply with the EPA standards. “However, it’s a very tight timeframe to design, construct, and operationalize a solution, especially since many other systems nationwide will be striving to do the same within this brief period.”

Accountability through litigation and legislation

Security-Widefield, Colorado, which has nearly 40,000 residents situated just south of Peterson Space Force Base near Colorado Springs, has already implemented water filters. This decision was informed by a 2022 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that examined PFAS levels in drinking water.

The report highlighted that average blood concentrations of two types of persistent chemicals, PFHxS and PFOA, among local residents were higher than the national averages, likely linked to drinking water contamination.

A significant element in assessing blood levels of PFHxS and PFOA was how long individuals had resided in Security-Widefield over the last two decades, according to the findings.

The Widefield Water and Sanitation District, which serves roughly 23,000 people and was part of the study, recently identified three PFAS compounds exceeding allowable limits, as YSL News reported following their analysis.

Lucas Hale, the district manager, explained in an email to YSL News that the contaminated water samples came from wells that had been shut down.

“We were able to utilize alternative water sources,” Hale stated. He added that previously, they managed PFAS-contaminated water by diluting it with surface water to keep concentrations below the EPA thresholds.

The district is now employing ion exchange technology, which uses small beads to filter PFAS out of the water.

Liz Rosenbaum, a co-founder of the Fountain Valley Clean Water Coalition, who recently ran for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives, emphasized that the water districts are not to blame and are facing an immense burden.

Instead, she argued that accountability should rest with the chemical manufacturers.

Over the years, Rosenbaum has interacted with state officials and traveled to Washington, D.C. to engage with federal representatives. Her campaign website claims she contributed to the passage of seven state laws related to PFAS by presenting evidence and mobilizing community members to testify at hearings.

“What we lack is accountability for those who are responsible for contaminating our water,” Rosenbaum asserted.

“We require both legal action and legislative measures.”

Looking ahead as Trump’s administration faces legal challenges

Currently, thousands of lawsuits are pending in the court system, with cities, utilities, and individuals filing against manufacturers of these persistent chemicals, including major consumers like the U.S. military.

However, the legality of PFAS limits is also under scrutiny.

Recently, two national water utility associations submitted an initial brief for a lawsuit against the EPA, claiming that the agency did not adhere to the proper protocols when establishing new limits under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

“(We) are committed to implementing effective, science-backed drinking water regulations that safeguard public health in a financially responsible way,” the organizations stated in a press release. “It is crucial that the EPA accurately follows the Safe Drinking Water Act procedures outlined by Congress.”

Spaniola expressed frustration, saying that the fact that his water utility payments in Detroit support the industry groups involved in lawsuits makes him feel disheartened, yet he remains undeterred.

Spaniola, along with other activists who refer to themselves as the “Forever Club,” represent a diverse range of political views and are open to engaging in discussions with the new Trump administration.

“We have faced numerous challenges for a long time, so while any setbacks or obstacles are worrisome, we will not be silenced and will continue to advocate for the truth,” he stated.