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2020 SESSION

20101226D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1257
Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled January 8, 2020
A BILL to amend and reenact § 32.1-169 of the Code of Virginia, relating to drinking water; maximum contaminant levels; PFAS compounds, other contaminants.
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Patrons-- Rasoul, Kory, Adams, D.M., Aird, Carter, Cole, J.G., Convirs-Fowler, Guy, Jenkins, Keam, Levine, Lopez, Mugler, Plum, Roem, Samirah, Simon, Tran and Watts
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Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 32.1-169 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 32.1-169. Supervision by Board.

A. The Board shall have general supervision and control over all water supplies and waterworks in the Commonwealth insofar as the bacteriological, chemical, radiological, and physical quality of waters furnished for human consumption may affect the public health and welfare and may require that all water supplies be pure water. In exercising such supervision and control, the Board shall recognize the relationship between an owner's financial, technical, managerial, and operational capabilities and his capacity to comply with state and federal drinking water standards.

B. The Board shall adopt regulations establishing maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in all water supplies and waterworks in the Commonwealth for (i) PFOS, PFOA, and other PFAS compounds; (ii) chromium-6; and (iii) 1,4-dioxane. Each MCL shall be protective of public health, including of vulnerable subpopulations, including pregnant and nursing mothers, infants, children, and the elderly, and shall not exceed any MCL or health advisory for the same contaminant adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In establishing such MCLs, the Board shall review MCLs adopted by other states, studies and scientific evidence reviewed by such states, material in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the U.S. Department of Health, and current peer-reviewed scientific studies produced independently or by government agencies.

C. The Board shall consider establishing MCLs in water supplies and waterworks pursuant to subsection B for any contaminant that is not listed in subsection B if two or more other states set limits or issue guidance on such contaminant.