HomeMy WebLinkAbout17.e FYI ADVISORY_Final PFOS PFOA Rule Announcement ' Olilli
Florida Water
Environment
Association
UTILITY COUNCIL
Mwef Member Association
To: FWEA Utility Council
From: Chad Revis
Date: April 10, 2024
Re: EPA announces final rule on PFOS/PFOA
Breaking news this morning regarding federal action on PFOS/PFOA: The EPA announced
the final rule and its publication is forthcoming. Please see the below story link and bullets
for a high-level summary:
Biden rule targets toxic chemicals in US drinking water
"The Biden administration on Wednesday announced the first-ever national limits on toxic
"forever chemicals" in drinking water, a move that will require utilities serving roughly one
in three Americans to remove the contaminants from their taps."
The top-line points from this article are:
- The rule is estimated to have a "$1.5 billion annual price tag, at least some of which
will be footed by ratepayers";
- AWWA predicts it will actually cost more than $3 billion annually;
- Utilities will have 5 years to eliminate detectable levels of PFOA or PFOS;
- Upgrades to treatment systems are mandated dependent on "hazard index"
calculation;
- The Biden Administration has committed to providing state-distributed funds ($1 B)
to help utilities with compliance costs;
- This rule is the first finalization of a drinking water limit for a new contaminant since
the Safe Drinking Water Act was updated in 1996 to require more stringent cost-
benefit calculations.
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