Texas Officials Uncover Significant Groundwater Pollution Issues
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Houston, Dec 18 (NationPress) In 2023, Texas uncovered 252 new instances of groundwater contamination, which accounts for nearly nine percent of all ongoing cases in the second-largest state in the U.S., based on an official report.
The latest annual report from the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee details 2,870 active groundwater contamination cases. The issue affects public drinking water across nearly every county in the state, with some instances dating back several decades.
The primary source of this pollution is gas stations, which constitute approximately one-third of all reported cases, as highlighted by the Texas Tribune on Tuesday.
The contaminants most frequently found, as outlined in the report, include gasoline, diesel, and various petroleum products, while some cases have unidentified sources of contamination.
Texas depends on groundwater from aquifers for about 55 percent of its overall water supply, with agriculture being the largest consumer of groundwater in the state.
On December 12, Xinhua news agency reported that Texas is taking legal action against companies such as DuPont and 3M, accusing them of producing items containing hazardous "forever chemicals," commonly referred to as PFAS, and misleading consumers regarding their safety.
Products like DuPont's Teflon and 3M's Scotchgard were marketed to Texans while concealing significant risks from both consumers and the state, according to the lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The lawsuit alleges that "Defendants have marketed products containing dangerous PFAS chemicals for over 70 years and were aware of their harmful effects for over 50 years."
According to a report by the Texas Tribune, PFAS contamination has been detected in some drinking water systems in Texas, with nearly 50 public water systems across the state reporting levels exceeding the newly established PFAS limits set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
A report from The Hill indicates that several states have already initiated lawsuits concerning these chemicals, with some claiming false advertising and others seeking damages for alleged contamination.
In 2022, 3M announced intentions to cease PFAS production by 2025 due to increasing environmental and legal pressures. The Hill also noted that DuPont separated its division responsible for PFAS-containing products in 2015.
PFAS, or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, refers to a group of synthetic chemicals that have been widely utilized in various consumer products.
