Bay Area Legislator Introduces Bill To Help Clean Up 'Forever Chemicals' From Water Supply

A new bill by a Bay Area state senator aims to create a special fund to help clean up so-called forever chemicals in California's water supply.

Senate Bill 454 was introduced by Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, on Tuesday and, if passed by the state Legislature and signed by the governor, would create the PFAS Mitigation Fund.

The fund would be managed by the State Water Resources Control Board and be used by drinking water agencies and other local jurisdictions to help remove the widespread toxic chemicals from water supplies.

It is co-sponsored by the League of California Cities and the Association of California Water Agencies.

"California has banned PFAS in consumer products ranging from food packaging and cosmetics to children's cribs and playpens. But PFAS has been used in thousands of products during the past eight decades, so forever chemicals have contaminated a substantial portion of our drinking water," McNerney said. "SB 454 would create a much-needed funding tool to help local agencies pay for PFAS cleanup, while also helping protect ratepayers from higher costs."

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