Rachel Silberstein reports in the Albany Times Union that better late than never, the state Drinking Water Quality Council recommended Dec. 18 limits on three industrial pollutants in drinking water linked to cancer. The council missed its statutory October deadline, but two months later, they picked limits that would be among the strongest in the nation. The panel voted to recommend maximum contaminant levels of 10 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS — 20 ppt combined. For the 1,4 dioxane, the panel recommended a maximum level of 1 part per billion in drinking water. By contrast, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended in 2016 setting maximum levels for PFOA and PFOS at 70 parts per trillion, while the New York Public Interest Research Group and other partner organizations recommend a combined maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS and an MCL of 0.3 parts per billion for 1,4-dioxane. The chemicals have contaminated waters in Hoosick Falls, Nassau, and Newburgh. Read the full story in the Albany Times Union.