Requires public water systems and landlords to provide certain notice of elevated perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances levels in drinking water; requires DEP to establish educational program.
The bill's implementation signifies a notable shift in how water quality issues, particularly PFAS contamination, are communicated to the public. By enforcing timely notifications, the bill emphasizes accountability on behalf of water systems and aims to enhance public awareness of potential health risks associated with PFAS. Moreover, the proposed legislation extends to landlords, requiring them to relay water quality notifications to tenants promptly. This dual tiered notification system aims to foster an informed community regarding environmental health risks, encouraging both proactive engagement and compliance with health standards.
Assembly Bill A2325 is a proposed piece of legislation from New Jersey aimed at addressing the public health concerns associated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. The bill mandates that public water systems must notify customers if their water exceeds established PFAS maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). The notification processes include a written alert sent to all affected customers—residential and institutional—within 30 days of an exceedance detection. This requirement seeks to ensure transparency regarding drinking water safety and safeguard public health, especially in vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women as specified in the bill.
Though generally supportive of greater transparency in public health, the bill has faced some contention regarding the regulatory burden it imposes on landlords and small water systems. Critics argue that the requirement for landlords to notify tenants could introduce complexities and potential liabilities, particularly if landlords fail to comply fully. The financial implications of non-compliance are also under scrutiny, with penalties exceeding those typically encountered in similar regulatory frameworks. This has prompted discussions on the balance between enforcing public health measures and ensuring manageable oversight for property owners and smaller utilities.