H 444 - PFAS Mitigation Measures Cost Reimbursement

• Requires persons responsible for discharging PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) contamination into water supplies to establish permanent replacement water supplies for affected private drinking water wells or pay costs for public water system remediation.

• Defines contamination as quantifiable PFAS concentrations exceeding 10 parts per trillion (ppt) individually or 70 ppt combined, measured by EPA-certified or Department-approved laboratory methods.

• For private wells, responsible persons must provide connection to public water supplies when feasible, or install filtration systems with the responsible party liable for maintenance costs.

• For public water systems, responsible persons must pay all actual and necessary costs to remove, correct, or abate PFAS contamination in finished drinking water using currently available technologies.

• Establishes that responsible persons are jointly and severally liable for all mitigation costs, which are in addition to existing statutory remedies, and allows public water systems to reimburse ratepayers through future rate reductions when previously incurred PFAS remediation costs are reimbursed.