Per and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances are found in 97% of human blood samples as a result of contaminated food and drinking water. These “forever chemicals” are extremely persistent in the environment and have been associated with a number of health hazards, including endocrine disruption, development and reproductive toxicity, and immunotoxicity.
Toxic facilities that discharge wastewater are often concentrated in low-income communities and communities of color. Downstream communities, private well-owners, and farmers are unaware of the risk because Virginia does not require polluters to disclose or control these chemicals in their discharges.
Take action and urge legislators to hold polluters responsible to clean up their waste and disclose the release of toxic chemicals
What is the greatest threat polluting Virginia waterways and the Chesapeake Bay?
The answer may surprise you. It is not industrial waste or piles of trash. It’s stormwater runoff. Unfortunately, this problem often goes unnoticed for the simple fact that we can’t see it. During rain storms (or when our recent dumping of snow melts) water rushes off all of our paved surfaces taking all of the untreated oil, sediment, trash and other pollutants into our storm drains which empty directly into local waterways!
Green solutions reduce and even eliminate stormwater pollution.
Untreated wastewater discharges make Rivers unsafe to swim in, and treating wastewater is expensive and energy intensive. Pervious pavement, green roofs, rain gardens, and increased urban forestry retain more water on-site thereby alleviating treatment costs and the pressure to our pipes. “Green infrastructure” also helps us tackle climate change by conserving energy, decreasing the urban heat island effect as well as eliminating the need for more “pipe and gutter” projects which don’t address the source of the problem.