DoD Must Provide Clean Water to Homes with Military-Related PFAS Contamination, Bill Mandates

This bill is all about making sure the Department of Defense (DoD) cleans up its own mess when it comes to drinking water contamination. Specifically, it mandates that the Secretary of Defense must offer alternative, safe drinking water to households whose private wells have been poisoned by two specific toxic compounds—PFOS and PFOA—if that pollution came solely from DoD activities at a nearby military base.

The Fine Print on Eligibility

Think of this as a required lifeline for people whose water is suddenly unsafe. The bill isn't a blanket fix, though; it sets very specific eligibility rules. For a household to qualify, three things need to be true: first, the home must be located “downgradient” (meaning water flows toward it) from a military installation; second, the well water must have, at some point, exceeded the EPA’s maximum contaminant level for PFOS or PFOA, and that contamination must be traced solely back to the DoD base. Finally, and this is key, at least one other household in the same community must already be receiving alternative water from the DoD for the same issue. This third point essentially ensures the DoD is already aware of the problem in that area, limiting the bill’s reach to known contamination zones.

What “Alternative Water” Actually Means

If you qualify, the DoD can’t just shrug. The bill defines “alternative drinking water” broadly, which is good news for flexibility. This could mean they deliver bottled water to your door, connect your house to the public municipal water system, or install a filtration system right on your property. For a family relying on well water near a base that used fire-fighting foams containing these chemicals—a common source of PFOS/PFOA contamination—this is a massive quality-of-life improvement and a necessary health protection. It takes the burden of securing safe water off the homeowner and puts it squarely on the agency responsible for the pollution.

The Catch: When the DoD Gets a Pass

While the bill is clearly beneficial, it does include some off-ramps for the DoD. The Secretary of Defense is not required to provide alternative water if the entire affected community has already been connected to a municipal drinking water system. More importantly, the DoD is also off the hook if they have already taken action under existing environmental laws (like CERCLA) to reduce drinking water exposure and have met the relevant Federal or State drinking water standards for PFOS and PFOA. This means if the base has already invested in a cleanup that meets the legal standard, they don't have to provide bottled water or other alternatives on top of that.

The Real-World Hurdles

For busy people, the biggest potential snag lies in those strict eligibility requirements. The requirement that the contamination resulted “solely” from DoD activities could open the door to lengthy administrative fights. If a homeowner lives near a military base and an old industrial site, for instance, the DoD could argue that the contamination isn't solely their fault, potentially delaying or denying aid. For the taxpayers, this bill represents a necessary cost for environmental cleanup—the price tag for ensuring that military activities don't permanently harm the health of nearby residents. Ultimately, this legislation aims to provide a clear, mandated path for relief, cutting through the red tape so that families affected by military-related water contamination can get access to safe drinking water without having to wait years for complex environmental remediation projects to finish.