The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) shares the goal of eliminating PFAS from America’s drinking water and environment. Our membership of over 30,000 small and rural water systems are committed to protecting public health and providing the essential services necessary for economic vitality in rural America. On behalf of our membership, NRWA made substantial comments to the EPA about the proposed ruling before they released the final regulation.
NRWA applauds EPA for providing utilities with time and flexibility to comply with the new PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, but we recognize that the requirements will have disproportionate impacts on small, disadvantaged, and rural communities that lack the financial and managerial capacity to make upgrades. Federal funding dedicated to rural communities must serve as a lifeline, providing essential support for the development, improvement, and maintenance of vital infrastructure. In addition, trusted third-party technical assistance providers, such as NRWA, should be deployed to ensure rural communities in every state receive equitable access to available funding and technical assistance.