(The Center Square) – Virginia legislators are pushing a new bill to tackle PFAS contamination in the Occoquan Reservoir, a key drinking water source for Northern Virginia.
The Virginia General Assembly is set to send a bill to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk to establish a PFAS reduction program for the Occoquan Reservoir, a key drinking water source for Northern Virginia. The bill passed the Senate 38-0 after clearing the House unanimously.
The bill introduced by Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax, would create the Occoquan Reservoir PFAS Reduction Program.
The program would require industries that discharge wastewater into the reservoir or nearby treatment plants to test for PFAS chemicals starting Oct. 1, 2025. The tests will also be required to follow EPA-approved methods to measure contamination levels.
The Occoquan Reservoir watershed spans 590 square miles and includes parts of Fairfax and Prince William counties. The watershed collects runoff from streams, industrial sites and wastewater treatment plants, making it vulnerable to contamination concerns, including those of PFAS.
PFAS, known as ‘forever chemicals,’ are man-made chemicals used since the 1940s. The chemicals fail to break down easily and have been linked to health risks, including cancer, immune suppression and developmental issues, prompting EPA efforts to reduce their presence in water and soil nationwide.
Fairfax Water officials reported that PFAS levels in the Occoquan Reservoir slightly exceed the federal safety limits. To comply with federal drinking water standards set to take effect in 2029, HB2050 requires that by July 1, 2027, any facility exceeding the Maximum Contaminant Level for PFAS will need to update its discharge permit to ensure compliance by July 1, 2029.
Fairfax Water projected that implementing a full-scale PFAS treatment facility at the Occoquan plant could cost $389 million, with an additional $24 million in annual maintenance costs.
Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, warned that failing to address PFAS contamination at its source will lead to skyrocketing costs.
“Unless we start to really dig into the sources of PFAS that are getting into the system, it’s going to continue to cost billions and billions,” McPike said on the Senate floor.
He added, “It’s impacting all of our health, our aquatic life, and so many other things.”
A statement from Fairfax Water said, “Fairfax Water supports this bill, which represents a proactive legislative effort to combat PFAS in our customer’s drinking water supply. It will ensure that polluters remove PFAS from the Occoquan Reservoir and safeguard public health. Fairfax Water thanks Del. Bulova for his continued commitment to protecting the Occoquan Reservoir and Fairfax Water’s customers.”
On Jan. 10, 2025, Fairfax Water filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Fairfax County against several manufacturers of aqueous film-forming foam chemicals. The lawsuit seeks to hold companies accountable for PFAS contamination in the Occoquan Reservoir and recover costs associated with water treatment and environmental remediation.
