Man-made chemicals known as PFAS have been detected across West Virginia, including in public drinking water systems in the Eastern Panhandle. Affected communities include Berkeley Springs, Charles Town, Harpers Ferry, Kearneysville, Martinsburg, and Summit Point.
PFAS are used to create a wide range of waterproof, stain-resistant, and non-stick products. Many of these products are considered essential to modern life, public safety, and health. However, the same properties that make PFAS useful also make them extremely persistent in the environment.
Although PFAS have been manufactured and widely used since the 1950s, they remained undetected, unregulated, and largely unreported for decades. Today, PFAS are found in soil, air, water, and in the blood of nearly every human. Scientific research now shows that long-term exposure to certain PFAS may be linked to serious health risks, including cancer, liver damage, immune system harm, and developmental issues.
The West Virginia PFAS Protection Act outlines a strategy to identify where PFAS is impacting public water systems, determine which industries are using these chemicals, and reduce the risks to people who rely on clean, accessible drinking water.
In response, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) has conducted extensive sampling of drinking water across the state and is developing PFAS Action Plans for every affected public water system.
We need your help! WVDEP is working in collaboration with the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, and other local organizations to host community meetings. These meetings will provide important information, offer opportunities to ask questions, and allow community members to share feedback.
Community knowledge plays a key role in developing effective and comprehensive action plans. Your input is critical, especially when it comes to identifying and mitigating potential sources of contamination.
Martinsburg Community Meeting
When: Thursday, Oct. 2, 6–8 pm
Where: The Country Inn�(110 South Washington St.)
Learn more: wvrivers.org/pfas
Also check out other Meetups in Berkeley Springs, Health & Wellness events in Berkeley Springs, Business events in Berkeley Springs.
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