BY PAULY SUBA
Journal Staff
With new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advisories on Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, known as forever chemicals in drinking water, Sen. Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas introduced Bill 283-37.
The bill stresses the importance of ensuring imported water meets safety standards to protect public health. According to the bill, foreign bottled water imported into the island is being dispersed and sold to island residents without scrutiny for dangerous or hazardous contaminants that can endanger the public.
The U.S. EPA found that PFAS are widely used and persist in the environment, potentially leading to harmful health effects in humans and animals. They are present in water, air, food, and soil across the globe. However, there are still many questions to be answered, such as how to detect and measure PFAS more efficiently, how much people are exposed to, and how harmful they are. Research is ongoing to better understand these risks and inform decisions to protect human health and the environment.
Marcos Fong is CEO of Foremost Foods Inc. and Coca-Cola Beverage Co. Guam, which imports bottled water from Asia and the continental U.S.
Fong said when it comes to testing bottled water, the concept is beneficial. “I think testing is a good thing. Especially when we want to identify where the source is of the water and what’s in the water. I know we get a lot of water from other parts of the world outside of the U.S., so I think it’s good,” he said.
When asked how he thinks bill 283 could affect business operations, Fong said his company will comply. “We already have stringent vetting processes for our bottled water suppliers. Even before we import, we make sure there are certain certifications from our manufacturers.” However, he said he hasn’t seen the definition of what exactly the tests are looking for. Fong said, “the testing regulations haven’t been defined at this point. We must make sure that it’s well defined and the definition is within reason.”
Fong said his company has its vetting processes, which make sure manufacturers are adhering to food safety and handling. Fong said, “The source of the water is important to us. I think the senators are concerned about that as well.”
Fong said the bottled water Foremost imports get tested at the supplier’s manufacturing facility, as well as after it lands in Guam. Fong said the company sends samples to the Water Quality Lab at the Water and Environmental Research Institute at the University of Guam.
“WERI will usually turn around a test result in matter of days and that is acceptable, but if new requirements demand the testing be done off island or we have to stand up another label, that can complicate things further.” Fong said as far as he knows, Guam doesn’t have the capabilities to test for PFAS.
Mallary M. Duenas, laboratory manager of WERI, told the Journal, “Currently, WERI WQL does not test nor conduct any work for PFAS.” She said unfortunately there are no plans to test for PFAS at the WERI WQL anytime soon.
Duenas said, “WERI WQL does not have the capability to conduct any work for PFAS.”
Don Sulat, public information officer of the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services, also confirmed that the Department of Environmental Health, a division of DPHSS does not test for PFAS in bottled water either.
Fong said, “The other thing to think about is … natural disasters like Typhoon Mawar, for example. Our local water wells may be contaminated and maybe at risk. If you set the bar too high and you can’t bring water in, suddenly, we could endanger the community as well.”
Fong said a year ago his company had a three-month supply of bottled water in storage; however, the supply went out in the three days immediately after Mawar. “If we had that problem, think about the other suppliers. It’s not unrealistic to think that if another typhoon hits or another natural disaster hits, in one or two weeks this island could be without water. It could then become a public health emergency,” Fong said.
Besides purchasing bottled water, consumers have grown accustomed to purchasing filtered water at water station stores or at grocery stores. Others have purchased water filters and have installed them in their homes.
FloWater Guam, founded in 2021 by Danny Taitingfong specializes in providing water refill stations to businesses and households, tapping into any water source and purifying it to improve quality.
Taitingfong emphasizes the importance of water testing. He said, "Testing is good, testing is needed. We need to know what’s in our water...we are all about clean, quality water." The company's refill stations utilize reverse osmosis systems and filters, enhancing water quality by adding alkalinity and electrolytes.
He stressed concerns over microplastics and harmful chemicals like PFAS, linked to health risks including cancer and pregnancy complications.
While educating the community about water quality has been challenging, he said FloWater Guam remains committed to providing superior filtration systems and promoting hydration. Taitingfong underscored the company's dedication to sustainability and customer well-being. He said, "For us, this isn’t a trend. It’s about sustainability."
To ensure it products are properly filtering tap water, Taitingfong said, “Our filters are better than a standard reverse osmosis system, which at the minimum is good. You need an RO system for anywhere to drink water. But we have superior osmosis which is way more effective and wastes less water.”
According to its educational material, FloWater’s micron sizes are superior osmosis purifiers that remove up to 99.99% of PFAS chemicals and up to 99% of bacteria and impurities as small as .0001 microns.
However, Taitingfong said the company doesn’t have the capabilities to test for PFAS either. He said FloWater is working on sending samples to its Bluewater supplier in Sweden. “Our products and our team at Blue Water have our own research and development team and we’re very effective worldwide.”
San Nicolas said that he understands the concerns raised by importers of water, to include Foremost, regarding the potential costs and logistical challenges associated with testing water products for PFAS contamination.
San Nicolas said, “However, it's essential to prioritize the safety of human consumption and ensure that our water products meet the highest standards of quality.”
In response to the concerns about the lack of on-island labs capable of testing for PFAS, San Nicolas acknowledged that this may pose a challenge. He said, “however, this should not be a barrier to ensuring the safety of our water products. Importers can explore alternative options, such as, collaborating with reputable labs off island that can test for PFAS and other contaminants, ensuring that samples are sent to these labs for analysis.”
He said importers can invest in on-island testing capabilities and consider investing in the development of on-island testing capabilities, which could be a long-term solution to address the current gap.
San Nicolas emphasized the need to engage with local authorities, such as WERI, to explore possibilities for developing on-island testing capabilities or identifying alternative solutions.
He said, “The bill's intention is to protect public health, and it's essential that businesses adapt to these changing regulations to ensure the safety of their products. By working together, we can find solutions that balance the needs of businesses with the imperative to protect public health."
Isaiah Aguon, communications director for the office of Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas said Bill No. 283-37 was referred to Sen. Sabina Perez, the chairperson of the legislative Committee on Environment. He said, “At this time, no public hearing has been set. Her office has not reached out to our team regarding scheduling one.”
Aguon said, “Senator San Nicolas will include a section in the bill that will ask WERI to develop along with Guam EPA the capacity to test for PFAS on island.” He said San Nicolas is willing to address Fong’s concerns by looking to include a provision in the bill that will allow for GovGuam to test for PFOS on island. mbj
Editor’s Note: Marcos Fong is the CEO of Foremost Foods Inc. and Coca-Cola Beverage Co. Guam Inc. Fong is also the managing director of Glimpses Media, sister company to Foremost and Coca-Cola.