As of last month, a new study named the Pocotaligo River as the most polluted waterway in the U.S. What’s particularly alarming is its extreme contamination with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals.” This shocking discovery has far-reaching implications for the environment and public health. It particularly hurts communities who depend on this waterway for recreational opportunities and as a potential source of future drinking water.
The Pocotaligo River serpents through the Sumter region. In fact, it showed levels of PFAS greater than any river tested in all 19 states. Researchers found PFOS levels under the Sumter sewage treatment plant as high as 30 parts per trillion. This is the highest concentration ever detected for this unique type of PFAS. PFAS concentrations in the river just below the treatment plant skyrocketed. They were over 100 times higher than those recorded upstream, highlighting the serious negative effects of wastewater effluent on water quality.
Alarming Levels of Pollution
Overall PFAS concentrations along the Pocotaligo River were found to exceed 228 parts per trillion. This finding underscores the significant, widespread contamination throughout the area. The outfall of the Sumter Pocotaligo River wastewater treatment plant at present is probably the biggest point source contributor to this high water pollution. Experts say industrial dischargers in Sumter are pumping large amounts of toxic PFAS directly into the river, deepening an already dire state of affairs.
Local fisherman Carl Brzorad put it best, sharing his worry over what these discoveries mean. He stated,
“The high levels of PFAS in the Pocotaligo River are very concerning, especially for the people who fish in the river.”
The study identified this stretch of the Pocotaligo River as “the most contaminated location detected,” underscoring the urgent need for remediation efforts and stricter regulations surrounding wastewater discharge.
Impacts on Local Communities
The implications of PFAS contamination go beyond environmental devastation, as it threatens public health. These PFAS chemicals can linger in human blood for decades. This is deeply troubling, as it raises questions about the chronic exposure risk for the community and recreational users that utilize the river. As groundwater supplies continue to disappear, the presence of these chemicals may complicate future work to find alternative sources of reliable water supply.
One local water service provider in the Lowcountry recently took a courageous step. They stopped using a different water source, a canal connected to the Black River, when PFAS contamination was found. The decision reflects growing apprehension regarding water safety among community members, especially given that both the Pocotaligo and Black Rivers are not current sources of public drinking water.
“Right now, PFAS chemicals are flowing into the Black River watershed, and into the Pocotaligo, without limits, without treatment, without accountability,” said Donmoyer.
Persistent pollution puts at risk both commercial fishing and recreational activities like boating. It would damage local ecosystems and threaten future water supplies.
Call for Action
Given these new disclosures, advocacy organizations such as Public Citizen are calling on federal regulatory agencies to act. The Waterkeeper Alliance showcased the privilege of protecting our waters. Rather than further erode current protections, it’s time for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize and enforce long-awaited reforms to stop PFAS poisoning Americans from coast to coast. The need for reform is driven by a growing awareness of the risks associated with these chemicals.
Environmental advocates say it’s time to act decisively onto the pollution sources poisoning the Pocotaligo River. They feel that urgent actions are needed to save this and other comparable streams. Without firm leadership, this crisis will inevitably deepen. This would impact irreplaceable aquatic habitat and threaten the health and well-being of communities whose members depend on access to these polluted waters.