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Rule Details
Rule Number:
24P047
Title:
Vermont Water Supply Rule.
Type:
Standard
Status:
Adopted
Agency:
Agency of Natural Resources
Legal Authority:
10 V.S.A. ยง 1672
Summary:
In 2024, EPA promulgated new PFAS regulations, including Maximum Contaminant Levels. States are required to implement these new standards into State regulation and be no less stringent. This rule incorporates the federal regulation but expedites the timeline due to our existing PFAS data and regulation. This will ensure systems in need of PFAS treatment seek and install such treatment while federal funding remains available, through 2027. It also updates state technical standards for PFAS treatment. We are also seeking updates to the regulation of bottled water in Vermont. EPA also promulgated updated regulations pertaining to Consumer Confidence Reports, a form of public notice providing essential information to be conveyed annually to water systems users. This state rule revision will incorporate those federal changes as well.
Persons Affected:
Public Community Water Systems and Public Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems will be required to adhere to the PFAS regulations set forth in the Rule. Some water system owners and operators will therefore be impacted; this can include cities, towns, fire districts, private corporations, homeowners associations, schools, towns, school districts, and other similar organizations. Public community water systems need to comply with the revised Consumer Confidence Report requirements. Bottled water companies include small and large businesses (such as Nestle and Coca Cola, for example) who are authorized to sell bottled water in Vermont.
Economic Impact:
Public water systems are required to conduct initial sampling under EPA's requirements, which may create cost burdens on some smaller systems. Of the 550 public drinking water systems in Vermont, DEC estimates about 33 (or 6) will be required to install treatment for PFAS under the new standards. Treatment and maintenance of treatment are expensive, but the State currently has funding available that will alleviate much of the financial burden installing treatment will create. The on-going costs of addressing PFAS will be borne by the water systems. The changing of the bottled water regulation is expected to allow more companies to sell in Vermont and the PFAS-specific requirements are not anticipated to have an impact, based on historic results on file. Other local, State, and federal funding opportunities may become available, and State funding for sampling is being contemplated.
