Last month, members of the National Groundwater Association and Water Quality Association took a break from providing drinking water to communities nationwide to advocate for all aspects of water and groundwater in Washington, D.C. The goal for the week? To educate our nation’s leaders on top priorities affecting groundwater and freshwater overall.
Think back 25 years ago to 1998. What was the most pressing issue in groundwater? Was it the consistent drought affecting the Mid-Continent and Midwest? Or the increase in nitrate levels throughout the country? The late 90s led to the infamous Nebraska Grout Study of 2001. However, 25 years ago, communities and scientists began to see significant impacts on water quality in streams and rivers throughout our country. It was not a coincidence that Robert Bilott, at the same time in 1998, started the investigation that led to discovery of PFAS downstream of a Dupont Landfill in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t learn about PFAS for five more years, in 2003 at Western Michigan University when we discussed it as an “emerging” contaminant.