The EPS’s new PFAS standards are a welcome step in safeguarding public health. However, these regulations place a significant financial burden on water utilities tasked with implementing the necessary PFAS mitigation measures. Let’s delve into the substantial costs associated with PFAS removal and explore a critical solution: holding polluters accountable.
The High Price of Clean Water
- Treatment Costs: From monitoring to installing and maintaining treatment systems, water utilities face potential expenditures in the billions.
- Unequal Burden: Unfortunately, smaller, rural communities are likely to face the greatest financial challenges in affording these essential upgrades.
Beyond Public Funds
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) allocates funds for water infrastructure improvements, but only a designated portion is specifically earmarked for PFAS remediation.
Moving towards a more sustainable solution requires looking beyond solely relying on public funds. Here, the ‘polluter pays’ principle takes center stage.
Polluter Pays: Holding Manufacturers Responsible
- Lawsuits are Proving Effective: A growing number of municipalities are taking legal action against PFAS manufacturers, and these lawsuits are yielding significant results, with billions secured for clean-up efforts.
- Recent Settlements: Companies like DuPont, 3M, and Tyco Fire Products have offered settlements exceeding $14 billion.
What You Can Do
- Check Your Eligibility: Public water systems can claim compensation from the multi-district litigation (MDL) settlements even if they did not participate in the initial proceedings.
- Stay Informed: New lawsuits and settlements are continually emerging, and there’s a strong likelihood that more manufacturers will be held responsible.
PFAS mitigation is a costly endeavor, but water utilities do not have to shoulder this burden alone. Litigation against polluters serves as a powerful tool to recover financial resources needed for clean-up. Public water systems should actively pursue all available avenues to secure safe drinking water for their communities without placing an undue financial strain on ratepayers.
By holding polluters accountable, we can pave the way for a more equitable and sustainable solution to the PFAS crisis.
SOURCE: Water World
