Clean Water Current

Legislators from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., convened at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) last week to hear about clean water utilities’ efforts to address growing concerns over PFAS in biosolids. NACWA was asked to participate and provide a national overview of some states’ practical approach to understanding PFAS in biosolids coupled with product source elimination. 

During the meeting, utility representatives discussed their work to better understand PFAS concentrations and identify upstream sources of the pervasive chemicals. The meeting aimed to inform state legislators about how clean water utilities manage residuals and strategies they are developing if any current management options become unavailable.  

The meeting was prompted by Maryland legislation introduced last year but which failed to pass that would have effectively banned the land application of municipal biosolids by imposing a 1 part per billion (ppb) maximum level for certain PFAS—a threshold inappropriately derived from EPA’s draft biosolids risk assessment.  

Several Maryland state legislators attended the meeting, and NACWA anticipates that a revised version of the bill will be reintroduced in next legislative session. However, NACWA expects that future proposals will include more practical provisions, including a move away from the 1 ppb limit. 

This positive development is a direct result of hard work and strong advocacy by the region’s public clean water agencies. Utilities in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., along with their state clean water associations, have increased communication and advocacy on biosolids issues while also working closely with the bill’s sponsors, state legislators and the Maryland Department of Environment to highlight the consequences a land application ban would have on the region’s utility operations, farmers and ratepayers.  

Members with questions may contact Emily Remmel, NACWA’s Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs.