Report on Maine Water Quality and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A recent report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) identified the presence of hexavalent chromium, arsenic, and nitrate in numerous public water utilities across the United States, including several in Maine. While state health officials confirm that these utilities are in compliance with current federal standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the findings have prompted a call for stricter regulations. This situation highlights a critical intersection of public health, environmental stewardship, and the global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Regulatory Compliance vs. Public Health Benchmarks

The EWG report flagged several Maine utilities, including the Greater Augusta Utility District, Brunswick & Topsham Water District, Brewer Water Department, and Old Town Water District, for detecting hexavalent chromium alongside arsenic or nitrate. However, official water quality reports from these districts confirm no violations of federal Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) in the past year.

• The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) noted that the EWG report utilizes alternative health-based limits that are significantly lower than the legally enforceable standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Advocacy groups, such as the EWG and the Maine-based Defend Our Health, argue that legal compliance does not equate to optimal public health protection and are calling for federal standards to be revised.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The core of this issue relates directly to SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The presence of any level of harmful contaminants in drinking water poses a challenge to achieving Target 6.1: universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.

• Advocating for Safer Water: The call for stricter MCLs is a direct effort to enhance the safety of public water supplies, moving beyond minimum legal requirements to better fulfill the ambitions of SDG 6.
• Holistic Treatment Approaches: The EWG’s recommendation to treat multiple pollutants simultaneously, rather than on a chemical-by-chemical basis, represents a more comprehensive strategy for ensuring water quality and resource management.

Impact on Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

The long-term health implications of exposure to contaminants like hexavalent chromium and arsenic are a primary concern, directly impacting SDG 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

• Preventative Health Measures: Exposure to these chemicals, even at low levels, is linked to increased cancer risk and other adverse health effects. Lowering the legally permissible levels in drinking water is a critical preventative health measure.
• Driving Systemic Change: As stated by Emily Carey Perez De Alejo of Defend Our Health, stronger regulatory and legislative action is needed to incentivize the removal of more pollutants, thereby improving community health outcomes and supporting the objectives of SDG 3.

The Role of Governance and Institutions (SDG 16)

This debate underscores the importance of strong and responsive institutions, a key component of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), in protecting public health and the environment.

1. State and Federal Agencies: The Maine DHHS and the U.S. EPA are responsible for enforcing the Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA has reiterated its commitment to ensuring clean and safe drinking water, while the DHHS has clarified the distinction between current legal standards and the more stringent benchmarks used by advocacy groups.
2. Local Utilities: Water districts are on the front lines, tasked with meeting regulatory standards and communicating with the public. They are key partners in implementing any changes to water treatment and safety protocols.
3. Advocacy and Legislative Action: Non-governmental organizations play a crucial role in holding institutions accountable and advocating for legislative changes that can drive improvements in public health and environmental protection, thereby strengthening the overall governance framework.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article directly connects the presence of chemical contaminants like hexavalent chromium, arsenic, and nitrate in drinking water to harmful health effects in humans, including cancer. The entire discussion revolves around mitigating these health risks.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The core subject of the article is the quality and safety of public drinking water. It discusses the presence of pollutants in water supplied by public utilities, compliance with federal standards (Safe Drinking Water Act), and calls for stricter limits on contaminants to ensure water is safe for consumption.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article’s focus on the health risks, such as cancer, posed by chemicals like hexavalent chromium and arsenic in drinking water directly aligns with this target. The efforts by health officials and advocacy groups to lower contaminant levels are aimed at reducing such illnesses.

2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article examines whether the drinking water provided by Maine utilities is “safe.” It highlights the discrepancy between current federal standards and stricter health-based limits proposed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), questioning the definition of “safe” and pushing for higher quality standards for all consumers.
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials. The EWG’s call for stricter limits and for utilities to treat multiple pollutants is a direct effort to improve water quality by reducing the concentration of hazardous chemicals. The entire debate over Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) is central to achieving this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Target 3.9 (Reduce illnesses from water pollution)

   • Implied Indicator: Reduction in the incidence of illnesses linked to waterborne chemical contaminants. While the article does not provide statistics on cancer rates, it establishes the link, implying that a key measure of success would be a decrease in such health problems as a result of cleaner water.

2. Target 6.1 (Access to safe drinking water)

   • Mentioned Indicator: Compliance with established safety standards. The article repeatedly refers to water utilities being “in compliance with federal standards” and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This compliance is a direct measure of water safety, albeit one that the EWG argues is insufficient.
   • Mentioned Indicator: The concentration of specific pollutants in drinking water. The article specifies the measurement of hexavalent chromium, arsenic, and nitrate. The Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) are described as being “measured in parts per billion or micrograms per liter of water,” which serves as a precise indicator for water quality assessment.

3. Target 6.3 (Improve water quality by reducing pollution)

   • Mentioned Indicator: The level of pollutants in public water systems. The data compiled by the EWG showing traces of hexavalent chromium, arsenic, and nitrate in thousands of public utilities serves as an indicator of current water quality and a baseline against which improvements can be measured.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: mainepublic.org