E.P.A. Targets Microplastics and Drugs in Drinking Water NYT | Top Stories By: Hiroko Tabuchi and Maxine Joselow 3 April 2026 at 02:26 The move drew praise from leaders of the Make America Healthy Again movement who had recently criticized the agency’s handling of toxic chemicals. © Ben Mckeown/Associated PressThe move could unlock more federal research into how drinking water can be treated to remove pollutants, but it may also lead to costly new standards for water utilities.