Senator Hassan Applauds New National Standard Preventing PFAS Chemicals in Drinking Water

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan applauded a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard that will limit PFAS chemicals in drinking water. As part of that announcement, the EPA is also providing new funding through the bipartisan infrastructure law – which Senator Hassan helped negotiate and pass – to help water systems identify and treat PFAS contamination. The EPA also announced today that New Hampshire will receive $9.4 million to treat PFAS contamination in water systems. The EPA announced earlier this year that more than $55 million was coming to the Granite State to improve water infrastructure.

“Granite Staters deserve access to clean water. Among other things, that means water that is free of contaminants such as PFAS and other toxic chemicals – and this announcement marks a significant step in our efforts to reach that goal,” said Senator Hassan. “These important new protections from the EPA will establish the first national limit on PFAS chemicals in our water. In addition, New Hampshire will get $9.4 million this year through the bipartisan infrastructure law program to ensure that our water systems are being tested and treated for PFAS contamination, building on the more than $55 million for safer and improved water infrastructure our state received earlier this year. When I helped negotiate the bipartisan infrastructure law, I worked to ensure that it included provisions and funding to help New Hampshire towns remove PFAS from drinking water. I will continue to work with my colleagues to address the dangers of PFAS and other forever chemicals that pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of Granite Staters.”

Senator Hassan, a negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure law, worked to secure a provision in the legislation to better ensure that New Hampshire towns would be eligible for an advanced technology grant program that could be used to remove PFAS from drinking water. The bipartisan infrastructure law also included an additional $10 billion specifically to address PFAS contamination. Senator Hassan also led efforts to pass into law bipartisan legislation that directs federal agencies to develop best practices, training, and educational programs to reduce, limit, and prevent exposure to PFAS in fire fighting equipment. Additionally, Senator Hassan has introduced legislation to ban PFAS chemicals in food containers and joined in introducing a bill banning the inclusion of PFAS chemicals in cosmetics products, such as makeup, moisturizer and perfume.

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