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H.R. 2533House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

PFAS Drinking Water Act

Sponsored by Frank Pallone, Jr.Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
Introduced May 7, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 4:57 AM UTC

The PFAS Drinking Water Act adds a new grant program to the Safe Drinking Water Act to help community water systems that have PFAS contamination. It authorizes up to $500 million each fiscal year from 2021‑2025 for grants that cover capital costs of approved treatment technologies. The law also defines PFAS for regulatory purposes.

Key Provisions

  • The EPA Administrator must create a grant program within 180 days to award funds to water systems for installing PFAS‑removing treatment technology.
  • Guidance on how to apply for the grants must be published within 12 months, and applicants must show PFAS presence and certify that current treatment does not fully remove PFAS.
  • Every two years the Administrator will publish a list of treatment technologies proven to eliminate detectable PFAS; only those on the list are eligible for funding.
  • Grant awards will prioritize systems serving disadvantaged communities, those that can contribute at least 10 % of the project cost, or those that can demonstrate ability to maintain the technology.
  • The program is funded at a maximum of $500 million per year for FY2021‑2025.
  • A new definition of PFAS is added to the Safe Drinking Water Act, describing them as per‑ and poly‑fluoroalkyl substances with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.

Legislative Activity

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6 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

Environment Subcommittee

September 26, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 7, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

May 7, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.

Environment Subcommittee

May 8, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

May 8, 2019

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Environment Subcommittee

May 15, 2019

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Environment Subcommittee

September 26, 2019

HouseCommittee

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

Environment Subcommittee

September 26, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 7, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2533

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 7, 2019

Mr. Pallone introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To assist community water systems affected by PFAS contamination, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Providing Financial Assistance for Safe Drinking Water Act or the PFAS Drinking Water Act.

2.

Establishment of PFAS Infrastructure Grant Program

Part E of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

1459E.

Assistance for community water systems affected by PFAS

(a)

Establishment

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish a program to award grants to affected community water systems to pay for capital costs associated with the implementation of eligible treatment technologies.

(b)

Applications

(1)

Guidance

Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall publish guidance describing the form and timing for community water systems to apply for grants under this section.

(2)

Required information

The Administrator shall require a community water system applying for a grant under this section to submit—

(A)

information showing the presence of PFAS in water of the community water system; and

(B)

a certification that the treatment technology in use by the community water system at the time of application is not sufficient to remove all detectable amounts of PFAS.

(c)

List of eligible treatment technologies

Not later than 150 days after the date of enactment of this section, and every two years thereafter, the Administrator shall publish a list of treatment technologies that the Administrator determines are effective at removing all detectable amounts of PFAS from drinking water.

(d)

Priority for funding

In awarding grants under this section, the Administrator shall prioritize affected community water systems that—

(1)

serve a disadvantaged community;

(2)

will provide at least a 10-percent cost share for the cost of implementing an eligible treatment technology; or

(3)

demonstrate the capacity to maintain the eligible treatment technology to be implemented using the grant.

(e)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not more than $500,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025.

(f)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Affected community water system

The term affected community water system means a community water system that is affected by the presence of PFAS in the water in the community water system.

(2)

Disadvantaged community

The term disadvantaged community has the meaning given that term in section 1452.

(3)

Eligible treatment technology

The term eligible treatment technology means a treatment technology included on the list published under subsection (c).

.

3.

Definition

Section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(17)

PFAS

The term PFAS means a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.

.