Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used for decades in industry and consumer products. While these chemicals have served an important role in certain applications, research indicates exposure to PFAS over a long period of time can cause cancer and other serious illnesses that decrease quality of life or result in death. Because PFAS do not easily biodegrade, they persist in our environment and impact our water supplies.
Through its National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for PFAS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring all public water suppliers to monitor for PFAS and take action if test results exceed the agency’s enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). The EPA has established an aggressive timeline for public water agencies to comply with the federal regulation.
The federal regulations require immediate action for drinking water suppliers to reduce the PFAS levels detected in their water supply and educate the impacted community. Beyond acting quickly to ensure federal regulatory compliance, there are unprecedented federal grant and principal forgiveness funding opportunities available now through 2025, with priority for shovel-ready projects.
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act
*Small and disadvantaged communities are best positioned for obtaining funding from these federal resources. Disadvantaged communities are defined on a state-by-state basis, according to affordability criteria including income, unemployment data, and population trends. Small communities are considered to have a population less than 10,000.
If you have not yet tested your drinking water supply for the presence of PFAS or recent tests have not indicated detectable levels, the federal regulation still requires you to comply with ongoing monitoring. By 2027, public water suppliers must complete initial and ongoing monitoring at all entry points to the distribution system with a frequency based on the system size and source water. While public water suppliers have until 2027 to conduct initial monitoring, principal forgiveness opportunities are available through 2025 and awarded on a first come, first served basis. Public water suppliers are also now required to include information about initial and ongoing compliance monitoring PFAS concentrations, with additional notification requirements if PFAS exceeds the EPA’s MCLs.
In addition to our drinking water experts that can help plan, fund, and execute monitoring programs, Woodard & Curran supports our clients with public outreach and engagement initiatives. Our experience includes leveraging multimedia resources from mailers to interactive websites that help keep the community well informed and maintain consumer confidence in the water supply system.