What Another Trump Term Could Mean for U.S. Drinking Water

With the 2024 election behind us, many Americans are asking a crucial question: What will happen to our drinking water when President-elect Donald Trump returns to office? It’s a valid question, considering the Trump administration’s prior actions on water policy and a possible continuation of that in the upcoming presidential term.

Donald Trump is no stranger to the White House, serving as the 45th President of the United States. If his first stint in the Oval Office is anything to go by, we can examine his team’s past actions and recent proposals concerning clean water regulation to gauge how various key water matters might be addressed this time around.

An Uncertain Future for Fluoride in Public Drinking Water

U.S. municipalities have been fluoridating public water supplies for so long that many assume fluoride is a natural part of their water. However, with Trump set to reoccupy the White House, the future of this long-standing practice hangs in the balance.

What is Fluoride, and Why is it in Drinking Water?

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in water, soil, and air, but it’s best known for its role in oral health and care. This mineral has proven to help strengthen teeth, reverse early tooth decay, and fight cavities, earning the nickname “Nature’s Cavity Fighter.” Due to these and other benefits, many communities add fluoride to public drinking water supplies, a practice known as water fluoridation.

Water fluoridation stretches back to the 1940s when scientists discovered that people living in areas where community water systems had naturally higher fluoride levels had teeth that were resistant to decay. This inspired the Michigan city of Grand Rapids (and subsequent cities) to add small amounts of fluoride to public water supplies to improve dental health among the population. And it worked! The cavity rate among Grand Rapids kids born after fluoridation dropped more than 60% over 15 years.

As of 2022, more than 209 million people, or 72.3% of the U.S. population, have fluoride in their drinking water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which hails fluoridation as one of the 10 most outstanding public health achievements of the 20th century. Furthermore, the American Dental Association says studies show that water fluoridation reduces dental decay by at least 25 percent in children and adults.

But now, there are growing concerns about fluoride in water, with some opposers calling for its removal from public water supplies.

Learn more: Fluoride in Drinking Water Explained

The Push to Eliminate Fluoride from Public Drinking Water

Despite being celebrated for its remarkable oral health benefits, many have rallied against adding fluoride to water, spawning “The Great Fluoride Debate.” The arguments often center around fluoride’s potential health effects, risk of overexposure in children and pregnant women, and freedom of choice.

Interestingly, Reuters reports that the new Trump administration does not support water fluoridation, vowing to push for completely removing the mineral from public drinking water. In a post on X, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick to run the nation’s health agency, wrote that on January 20 (the day of Trump’s inauguration), “the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water.”

RFK Jr. believes water fluoridation at U.S. levels could lead to numerous health issues, including cancer. “Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,” he also wrote on X.

“We don’t need fluoride in our water,” Kennedy said on NPR’s “Morning Edition” the day after the election. “It’s a very bad way to deliver it into our systems.” “I think fluoride is on the way out,” he told NBC News that day.

It’s important to note, however, that “the federal government does not have legal authority to require state and local communities to fluoridate their water, nor to remove fluoridation in areas where it is already policy,” notes KFF News. The individual communities at the state or city level decide whether or not to add fluoride to their water supply.

Related: Is Fluoride in Drinking Water Making Kids Less Intelligent?

Watered Down Regulations for Clean Water

Perhaps the most significant potential impact of Trump’s return on drinking water stems from the likely changes to clean water standards. As NBC News reports, the Trump administration’s new health policy could include revisiting and potentially rolling back several critical water regulations implemented by its predecessors—a continuation of a trend seen in Trump’s prior regime.

kid drinking from water fountain

A History of Regulatory Rollbacks and Policy Shifts

Trump and Biden are very different, which may seem obvious, but it is very noticeable in regulations. The Trump administration generally favors deregulation, which contrasts strongly with the Biden administration. Trump’s deregulation approach could impact the following water regulations:

  • Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule: Trump’s former team repealed Obama’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule, which had expanded pollution protections for smaller streams and wetlands. The WOTUS rule was replaced with the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which redefines which bodies of water would be federally regulated, limits protections for larger water bodies, and leaves smaller wetlands and streams under state control, according to The New York Times.
  • Coal Ash Regulations: The Trump administration also loosened rules on coal ash—a powdery residue laced with heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury—and wastewater from coal plants. The modified rule allowed plants up to three more years to close unlined coal ash ponds, which environmentalists believe gave utilities a free pass to pollute the environment for longer.
  • Stream Protection Rule: According to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the Stream Protection Rule aimed to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts from coal mining on nearby streams and other waterways. However, in February 2017, Trump signed a law to eliminate this rule, claiming it would save jobs in the mining industry.

According to the Trump administration, this broader deregulation strategy should reduce regulatory burdens on industries and promote economic growth. However, environmental groups argued that these rollbacks put water quality and public health at risk.

Potential Changes to Clean Water Standards in Trump’s Second Term

Now that Trump has been re-elected, many expect his administration to continue this deregulatory approach. If Trump pursues this agenda, Smart Water Magazine says, “U.S. water quality standards may lean toward reduced oversight, providing industries greater flexibility but potentially increasing community exposure to harmful contaminants. Local governments and water utilities may have to bear the responsibility for pollution monitoring and mitigation, filling gaps left by reduced federal oversight.”

Potentially Fewer Protections from PFAS, Pesticides in Drinking Water

Per an NBC News report, RFK Jr. suggests Trump’s health policy could include greater oversight of chemicals and pesticides in drinking water as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. While that sounds good on paper, it differs from when Trump was last in charge.

Trump’s Past Actions and Policies on Some Chemicals in Drinking Water

During Trump’s previous White House term, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wasn’t keen on regulating certain chemicals. The agency was more inclined to approve new chemicals and ease regulations on existing ones despite evidence of potential harms, NBC News reports.

For instance, the EPA under Trump faced heavy criticism for “meddling in PFAS science.” According to Bloomberg Law, there were allegations of EPA managers pressuring scientists to downplay the possible dangers of some hazardous chemicals and altering scientific results to make the substances seem safer than they were.

Beyond that, in 2019, the EPA issued a PFAS Action Plan, which identified key actions to address PFAS-related challenges. A 2023 report by the EPA’s Office of Inspector General notes that a Trump-era assessment of PFAS risk was more permissive, potentially allowing companies to leave behind more PFAS contamination during cleanups.

Pesticides suffered a somewhat similar treatment. In 2017, the Trump administration rejected a proposed ban on chlorpyrifos, a “brain-toxic” pesticide, for which no level is safe in drinking water, especially for kids, Earthjustice emphasizes. Furthermore, an analysis by the Center for Biological Diversity also found that Trump’s EPA approved more than 100 products with pesticides banned elsewhere or slated for phase-out in the U.S.

Related: 1 in 5 Americans May Have PFAS in Their Tap Water, Study Finds | Widespread & Dangerous Are Pesticides in U.S. Drinking Water?

How the New Trump Administration Could Impact PFAS and Pesticide Regulation

Since Trump left office in 2021, we have seen some progress in regulating various chemicals. On April 10, 2024, the EPA issued its first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standards for PFAS. This new rule sets maximum contaminant levels for six PFAS compounds, including a 4-parts-per-trillion (ppt) limit for PFOA and PFOS. As for pesticides, the EPA classifies chlorpyrifos as a hazardous substance under the Clean Water Act. While there’s no specific maximum contaminant level (MCL) for chlorpyrifos in drinking water, the EPA has been reassessing its risks.

With Trump soon back in the driver’s seat, it’s unclear where he will stand regarding current and upcoming PFAS regulations and pesticide rules. However, EHN.org says public health advocates worry that “the Trump administration could reverse Biden-era rules that mandate PFAS reductions in drinking water, citing costs and industry concerns.” Others predict a less drastic approach: “…the Trump administration may seek to raise limits instead of a wider repeal.”

In either case, industries would have greater flexibility in using and discharging certain chemicals, potentially heightening community exposure to harmful contaminants in their water supplies. And that’s pretty scary, considering that PFAS exposure has been linked to various health problems, including kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, congenital disabilities, and fertility issues. Worse, a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that at least 45% of America’s tap water could have one or more PFAS.

But hey, we’re living in unpredictable times. Anything can happen now with RFK Jr. in Trump’s corner. Perhaps we’ll see a shift in how these chemicals are handled. It’s something to keep an eye on as the term progresses.

Related: The Toxic Effects of PFAS in Drinking Water | EPA Proposes First-Ever Federal Regulations for PFAS in Drinking Water

Possible Implications for Your Health and What to Do About It

As President-elect Trump prepares to return for another term, it’s natural to question, even have some concerns, about the future of your drinking water and the possible consequences for your health. After all, reducing key water protection measures could have far-reaching impacts on public health.

Take PFAS as an example. Rolling back or relaxing regulations for these “forever chemicals” might mean more PFAS-laced products in landfills and more chemicals leaching into waterbodies that supply our drinking water.

What can you do to safeguard your health? For starters, try your best to keep up with local water quality reports and any changes to federal regulations. Secondly, participate in community discussions about water quality and push for local protections if federal oversight decreases. Most importantly, consider investing in a water filter for your home.

Best Water Filters to Consider Installing

With the new government change, a water filter can be a powerful tool for those concerned about their drinking water quality. For instance, our Whole-House Water Filter treats every drop of water entering your house, eliminating volatile organic contaminants (VOCs), chlorine, chloramines, hydrogen sulfide, and organic materials. They even reduce unpleasant tastes and odors in tap water.

whole house water filter system

The Moen Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System is your best choice if you only want clean, filtered water from your kitchen faucet. It’s a point-of-use system often installed under your sink, filtering the water you drink and cook with.

Moen reverse osmosis under sink view

To learn more about our premium water filtration systems or if you need help choosing the best one for your needs, call us at 800-589-5592 or schedule a free call.

Final Thoughts

As we move ahead with a new administration, many of us feel a mix of hope and worry, as the next presidency could reshape the future of our drinking water. Given the stakes, this is a call to action for us to know what’s happening with our water, engage in conversations within our communities about its safety, and, most importantly, put measures in place to keep out potentially harmful toxins. Let’s remain vigilant. Together, we can make a difference in protecting this vital resource for ourselves and future generations.