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PURE Water Act offers bipartisan funding to remove PFAS from drinking water—revealing four urgent threats and charting a path for Michigan communities.
Bipartisan PURE Water Act Aims To Clean Up PFAS Contamination In Water Systems
U.S. Representatives Hillary Scholten (D?MI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R?PA) introduced the Public Utility Remediation and Enhancement for Water Act, known as the PURE Water Act, to fund municipal water treatment upgrades targeting PFAS contamination. PFAS—often called “forever chemicals”—are linked to cancers, birth defects, and reproductive issues.
Michigan’s Alarming PFAS Levels Fuel Push for Federal Support
Representative Scholten stressed that Michigan has some of the highest PFAS levels in drinking water, and argued that empowering communities to remediate this contamination is essential. “Local governments shouldn’t be footing the bill,” she stated.
PURE Water Act Delivers Bipartisan Aid Without Burdening Taxpayers
Representative Fitzpatrick framed the legislation as a targeted, bipartisan solution that helps municipal water systems remove PFAS at the source, “protect families, restore trust, and hold polluters—not taxpayers—accountable.”
Four Urgent PFAS Risks Underscore Need for Action in Michigan
- High statewide exposure: Nearly 2 million Michiganders have detected PFAS in their drinking water, across more than 11,000 potential contaminated sites.
- Devastating local cases: In Parchment, water contained PFAS at 1,587?ppt—over 20 times Michigan’s advisory level—prompting a state emergency and emergency water hookups.
- Private well vulnerability: Roughly 25% of Michigan residents rely on private wells that aren’t routinely monitored and may exceed safe PFAS levels.
- Smooth contamination pathways: Atmospheric deposition and river pollution carry PFAS widely, with proven contamination in Metro Detroit and across the Great Lakes region.
State and Federal Standards Set Tight Limits on PFAS in Michigan
Michigan enforces some of the nation’s strictest PFAS drinking water rules: MCLs are set at 8?ppt for PFOA and 16?ppt for PFOS, plus standards for several other PFAS compounds. Federal regulations initiated in April 2024 require public water systems to meet enforceable PFAS limits by 2029.
How Michigan Could Use PURE Water Act as a Model for Cleanup Programs
Michigan lawmakers and utilities could leverage the PURE Water Act to secure federal funding for treatment upgrades, easing the burden on local budgets and accelerating infrastructure improvements—especially in communities with heavy burdens like Parchment.
Related news
- Michigan communities face PFAS threats from military sites, including Wurtsmith Air Force Base, where groundwater spiked up to 213,000?ppt.
- Atmospheric transport of PFAS across Detroit and Ann Arbor reveals contamination pathways beyond industrial sources.
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