Water Quality

To date, 1,400 industrial and commercial sites have been identified in 49 U.S. states with varying amounts of PFAS contamination. Bluefield’s PFAS remediation forecast shows that drinking water utilities will spend nearly US$13.5 billion between 2023 and 2030, up from a previously forecasted total of US$6.0 billion. The anticipated revision accounts for the EPA’s proposed MCLs and the momentum from recent manufacturer settlements.

Many cities and municipalities are feeling a renewed sense of urgency around lead service lines (LSL). Bluefield estimates some 6.1 million LSLs remain in the ground across the U.S., serving between 15 million and 22 million people. Analysis shows that full replacement will require US$32+ billion, driven by ten states that account for approximately 65% of the replacement market value.

Going forward, signals (e.g. temperature, nutrient runoff, larger storm events) indicate Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (CyanoHABs) will increase in prevalence and intensity beyond the southern states. With over 140 million people served by surface water in the U.S., monitoring for and treating cyanotoxins is an inescapable reality for community water systems.

With the E.U.’s revised Drinking Water Directive entering into force, member States have until January to transpose the revised Directive into their national legislation. The Directive, first introduced in 1998, lays down the essential quality standards across the E.U. level: a total of 48 microbiological, chemical, and indicator parameters must be monitored and tested regularly.