Dive Brief:
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A bipartisan bill proposed Thursday would authorize $10 billion in federal funding over five years to help communities remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and other emerging contaminants from their water supplies.
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The Protect Clean Water Act would continue federal funding for PFAS removal previously provided by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The IIJA, which provided $10 billion to help communities remove emerging contaminants, expired Sept. 30.
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The American Water Works Association estimated in 2024 that more than 7,000 entry points needed capital improvement investments to treat PFAS in drinking water, requiring a $37.1 billion to $48.3 billion investment through 2029. Combined with the costs of operations and maintenance, the annualized cost is estimated to be $2.7 to $3.5 billion, according to AWWA.
Dive Insight:
The Environmental Protection Agency finalized new Clean Water Act standards that set maximum caps on levels of PFAS allowed in drinking water in 2024. Many cities and towns are struggling to meet the requirement deadlines, which is affecting water affordability, Carolyn Berndt, the National League of Cities’ legislative director for sustainability, said during the NLC Congressional City Conference in March.
More than 1,700 public water systems recorded at least one PFOA or PFOS at or above 4 parts per trillion, the federal maximum contaminant level established for each chemical, according to federal data.
“For too long, Long Islanders have faced toxic cancer-causing PFAS contamination in our water while shouldering the high cost to make it safe,” Rep. Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., said during a Thursday press conference with mayors from cities and villages in Long Island, New York. Gillen and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., co-sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives.
The bill would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to replace the $100 million per year authorized to pay for PFAS removal from 2020 through 2024 with $1 billion annually from 2027 through 2031. It also authorizes the distribution of $1 billion per year through Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to help communities invest in treatment technology and upgrade water infrastructure.
“This bill ensures states have the dedicated funding they need to address these threats, remove harmful contaminants from drinking water, and protect our waterways for generations to come,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement.
Rockville Centre, New York, Mayor Francis Murray said providing safe drinking water “is one of the most important responsibilities we have as local government officials.” The Protect Clean Water Act “represents an important step toward helping communities address emerging contaminants and make necessary investments to protect their water supplies,” he said in a statement.
The Clean Water Construction Coalition, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the WateReuse Association and Citizens Campaign for the Environment endorsed the legislation.
“Keeping our communities safe requires federal investment,” Bruno Pigott, executive director of the WateReuse Association, said in a statement.
