A bill to require the provision of alternative drinking water to households whose private drinking water is contaminated with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid substances from activities of the Department of Defense.

Key Points

• This bill requires the Department of Defense to provide clean drinking water to families living near military bases whose private wells are contaminated with chemicals known as PFAS. These chemicals often come from firefighting foams used during military training and can stay in the environment for a long time.
• If a home's well water has ever tested above the safety limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency, the military must offer help. This help can include providing bottled water, installing home water filters, or paying to connect the house to a city water system.
• The rule applies to homes that are located downstream or downhill from a military site. It specifically targets neighborhoods where some people are already getting help from the government. This ensures that everyone in the affected area is treated fairly and has access to safe water.
• The military does not have to provide extra help if the home is already connected to a city water system or if the Department of Defense has already fixed the contamination problem. This ensures the program focuses on people who still have dangerous chemicals in their drinking water.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.