As drinking water contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) increasingly threatens communities, bills providing grants for testing and treatment technologies were reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representative and the U.S. Senate.
Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and David Rouzer (R-North Carolina) reintroduced the “Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act” also known as the “Healthy H2O Act” on July 23.
The legislation was reintroduced in the Senate on July 23 as well by Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
The bills provide grants for water testing and treatment technology directly to individuals and nonprofits in rural communities. Systems that improve water quality — whether installed at the faucet or within a building — can provide immediate and ongoing protection from known and emerging water contaminants, including PFAS, lead, and nitrates.
“The Healthy H2O Act will help make water testing and treatment technology more accessible in rural communities across the country, especially for families on private wells who are too often left to navigate contamination risks on their own,” Pingree said. “As national protections face delays and uncertainty, local communities can’t afford to wait. This bipartisan bill gives them the tools to identify and address harmful chemicals like PFAS and lead at the tap.”
The Healthy H2O Act would provide funding for point-of-use water treatment systems such as under-sink filters that can deliver immediate protection. Nearly 43 million U.S. households — primarily in rural areas — depend on private wells that are not regularly monitored under federal or state drinking water programs, leaving many communities vulnerable to contamination.
“Too often, rural communities across the country face barriers to accessing clean, safe drinking water,” NGWA President Eric Macias said. “The Healthy H2O Act is a real step forward, delivering resources to help families test and treat their water. This legislation reflects the kind of commonsense investment that can truly improve lives.”
NGWA has long been an industry leader in providing PFAS research, education, and resources to the public and scientific communities. Click here to learn more. The Association will host, PFAS in the Age of Uncertainty Conference, March 9-10, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.