MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. – Democrat Monongalia County Delegate Evan Hansen will introduce legislation to update water quality standards in West Virginia.
Hansen is an environmental scientist by trade and says it’s important to know what carcinogens corporations are using and what concentrations are left in the water supply.
“Requires facilities who use them in manufacturing processes to disclose that to state agencies, so we can start monitoring their release into the environment,” Hansen said,”To use science to determine how widespread the pollution maybe so we can regualte it in the future.”
Hansen says the compounds are used in numerous products and are being found in streams, rivers, fish and people across the country.
Hansin’s measure would give the state of West Virginia the tools they need to develop new water standards and track contaminents.
“States all across the country are grapling with this,” Hansen said,”Trying to identify sources, then develop clean drinking water standards that public water systems can mett to make sure their customers are safe.”
Hansen says that if pollution is found it would be up to the pollutor to mitigate the problem and not the ratepayer.
“This bill is not really focused on accidents or leaks,”Hansen said,”It’s really focused on collecting data and information to come up with science based standards.”