This bill establishes a new fund to address water contamination from specific chemicals known as PFAS and 1,4-dioxane. It allocates $56 million for grants to local water and wastewater systems to help them monitor, treat, and clean up these contaminants, with priority given to areas already facing significant health or environmental risks. An additional $14 million is set aside for scientific research at the University of North Carolina to develop better detection and removal methods for these substances. The legislation also provides $25 million specifically to protect firefighters and their families by funding studies, temporary water supplies, and filtration systems for fire stations affected by these chemicals.
HB 1136 pauses new surface water transfers from the upper Cape Fear River Basin until June 1, 2030, while a university study evaluates the region's water supply and recommends future policy changes. The bill directs the North Carolina Collaboratory to assess water availability, environmental impacts, and economic fairness, with findings due by July 2029. Additionally, it strengthens the Environmental Management Commission's authority to order reductions to existing water withdrawals and pollution discharges if they harm public health or water resources.
SB 324, the 2025 Safe Drinking Water Act, requires North Carolina's Commission for Public Health to establish safe limits for harmful chemicals in drinking water by October 2025. It directly affects all North Carolina residents by mandating maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for specific toxins like PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, hexavalent chromium, and 1,4-Dioxane - chemicals linked to cancer or serious health risks. The bill directs the Commission to base these limits on scientific evidence from other states and federal agencies, ensuring protections for vulnerable groups like children and pregnant people, while aligning with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. The law also requires annual reviews to update these limits as new health science becomes available.
HB 570, the "Responsible Firefighting Foam Management Act," restricts the use of firefighting foams containing PFAS chemicals for training and testing. It prohibits any person, local government, or state agency from discharging Class B firefighting foam with intentionally added PFAS for training or practice purposes. For testing, these foams are also prohibited unless required by law or an authority, and the testing facility has implemented measures to prevent environmental releases. The bill mandates the use of non-fluorinated alternatives for training and is set to become effective on December 1, 2025.
SB 384 requires North Carolina's Commission for Public Health to establish safe limits for specific toxic chemicals in drinking water by October 2025. It targets chemicals like PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, hexavalent chromium, and 1,4-Dioxane - known or suspected carcinogens - mandating limits based on scientific evidence and ensuring they do not exceed federal EPA standards. The law also requires annual reviews of new research to update these limits as needed. This directly affects all North Carolina residents who rely on public water systems, with special consideration for children, infants, and pregnant people.
HB 569 requires PFAS manufacturers (those who produce PFAS compounds like GenX) to pay public water systems for cleaning up PFAS contamination in drinking water when levels exceed EPA safety limits. It allows the Environmental Quality Secretary to order polluters to cover actual cleanup costs, including technology to reduce PFAS levels, and applies retroactively to expenses since 2017. The bill appropriates $300,000 for implementation and mandates annual reports on fund use, with water systems refunding ratepayers when manufacturers cover costs. This directly affects water systems burdened by PFAS cleanup, PFAS manufacturers deemed responsible, and ratepayers who may see reduced future water rates.
SB 447 establishes the Sewer Repair Task Force to assess North Carolina's wastewater infrastructure needs, develop implementation strategies, and identify funding sources. The bill appropriates $50 million from the General Fund specifically to the South Granville Water and Sewer Authority for four concrete projects: expanding facilities in Creedmoor and Butner ($20M), upgrading treatment for PFAS compliance ($15M), modernizing water meters ($10M), and replacing lead pipes ($5M). The Task Force, composed of 18 members including legislators, agency directors, county commissioners, and wastewater entity representatives, must submit a final report by December 2026. This bill directly affects South Granville's service area and addresses state-identified infrastructure gaps, particularly in rural and developing communities.
SB 590, the Coastal Plain Resilience and Economic Prospects Act, appropriates over $2 billion in nonrecurring funds and additional recurring funds to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for environmental programs. The bill allocates $2 billion specifically for grants to public water and wastewater systems, along with funding for coastal resilience projects, flood risk reduction, dam safety studies, Superfund cleanups, and addressing contaminants like PFAS through dedicated staff positions. It also provides recurring funds for marine patrols, air quality monitoring, and technical assistance for businesses. The funding supports communities and infrastructure across North Carolina, with the bill becoming effective July 1, 2025.
SB 653, titled "Polluter Pays," requires companies or entities causing water or air pollution to cover cleanup costs and provide alternative water supplies to affected residents. It amends environmental laws to let the state’s Commission order polluters to pay for investigations, cleanup, and temporary or permanent replacement water systems (including whole-house filtration for households) when pollution endangers health or safety. The Commission can enforce these orders through civil lawsuits if polluters refuse payment, and must provide affected residents with water solutions within specified timeframes. This directly affects polluting businesses and residents whose water or air quality is harmed by pollution.
SB 666 creates a $56 million PFAS Mitigation Fund to help local water and wastewater systems address PFAS contamination through grants for testing, treatment upgrades, and emergency response. It sets strict drinking water limits (e.g., 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS) and requires the state to adopt science-based PFAS discharge limits for industries by October 2025, including source reduction plans and pretreatment technology. The bill also allocates $14 million for research on PFAS detection, health impacts, and removal technologies through UNC’s Collaboratory. These provisions directly affect public water systems, industrial dischargers, and communities facing PFAS contamination in water sources.
