Tidewater Utilities, Inc., (Tidewater) a wholly owned subsidiary of Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ:MSEX), is prepared to comply with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s new drinking water standard for certain PFAS (Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl substances) that was announced on April 10, 2024; and is expected to be effective in 2029. PFAS are a group of widely used, man-made chemicals, used in industry and consumer products like non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing and food packaging since the 1940s.
The EPA’s new regulations create a new national requirement for regulating six PFAS compounds found in the nation’s drinking water supply and establishes a new Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for PFOS and PFOA at 4 parts per trillion (4 ppt).
“We support new EPA standards that protect the health and safety of our customers. In anticipation of new federal standards for PFAS, Tidewater had implemented a mitigation strategy and has been performing voluntary sampling of all of our 175 wells for several years,” said Bruce E. Patrick, Tidewater President. “We have proactively installed ion exchange resin for PFAS treatment at four locations. We continue to monitor our water supplies to ensure compliance with the new EPA regulations. Should additional treatment be necessary based on future water sampling results, we have the technical expertise to implement any necessary plant upgrades needed for compliance. We are fully committed to continue delivering a safe and reliable water supply to the Delaware residents and businesses that rely on us for their water services,” added Patrick.