Tucson Standard

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero praised the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and has called on the government to increase funding toward a reduction in the levels of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in drinking water.

“I want to thank Administrator Regan and the Biden Administration for updating the EPA’s drinking water health advisory, and moving forward to establish the first-ever PFAS regulations to reflect the latest science and research," Romero said, in a story by KNXV. Romero also issued a statement via her Twitter Page.

"I am also grateful to our Congressional Delegation for helping secure a historic level of funding for PFAS remediation in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” she added. “Still, significantly more resources will be needed, which is why the responsible parties must step up and be held accountable.”

PFAS are synthetic chemicals used to make other products resistant to water and heat. As more science becomes available, changes in water-quality standards are needed, according to a release on the EPA website.

“Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are also investing $1 billion to reduce PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water.”  EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement.

It’s necessary for the government to act quickly in the matter, Regan added.

“People on the front-lines of PFAS contamination have suffered for far too long,” he said. “That’s why EPA is taking aggressive action as part of a whole-of-government approach to prevent these chemicals from entering the environment and to help protect concerned families from this pervasive challenge.”