U.S. Water News Online
TRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey will dramatically toughen the legal limits on arsenic in drinking water and on mercury emissions from power plants, standards that state officials called the nation's strongest.
The 10 coal-fired power plants in the state must cut mercury emissions by 90 percent before December 2007. Municipal trash incinerators have seven years to cut mercury emissions back to 95 percent of what was measured in 1990.
Arsenic levels in drinking water must stay below five parts per billion, half the newest federal standard for clean water.
The state Department of Environmental Protection said the new pollution rules were formally adopted.
"If New Jersey's mercury rules were enacted nationally, annual emissions from power plants alone would decline from approximately 48 tons to about five tons," DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell said.
Several methods exist to allow water to be treated beyond the limits set by the federal government, he said.
"We can provide greater health protections, reducing the risk of cancers from arsenic in drinking water," Campbell said.
More than 600 public water systems and another 900 additional water systems are monitored for arsenic levels. New Jersey also requires private wells to be tested when homes are sold.
DEP officials estimate that 135 water systems will not meet the new standard, which goes into effect in January 2006.
Arsenic in its natural form is found throughout New Jersey, particularly the northern part of the state where it can leach out of rock formations.
Mercury poisoning comes from eating contaminated fish. The metal accumulates in water. Pregnant women and children are at risk of brain damage from exposure to even low levels of mercury.
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