2025 SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT.

Printer-friendly: Click to view
View NCGA Bill Details(link is external)2025-2026 Session
Senate Bill 324 (Public) Filed Tuesday, March 18, 2025
AN ACT TO PROTECT NORTH CAROLINA CITIZENS FROM HARMFUL TOXINS IN DRINKING WATER BY REQUIRING THE COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH TO ESTABLISH MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVELS FOR CHEMICALS THAT ARE PROBABLE OR KNOWN CARCINOGENS OR ARE OTHERWISE TOXIC.
Intro. by Everitt, Applewhite, Smith.

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action) (Mar 19 2025)

SOG comments (1):

Identical bill

Identical to S 384, filed 3/20/25.

S 324

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Mar 18 2025 - View Summary

    Requires the Committee for Public Health (Committee) to do the following no later than October 15, 2025. Requires the Committee to begin rulemaking to establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), as that term is defined under GS 130A-313 (the North Carolina Clean Water Act), for probable or known carcinogens and other toxic chemicals likely to pose a substantial hazard to public health.  Requires the Commission to establish MCL’s for the following five contaminants: (1) per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); (2) perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); (3) perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS); (4) Hexavalent chromium (chromium-6); and (5)1,4-Dioxane. Also requires considering establishing MCLs for any other contaminants for which at least two other states have set MCLs or issued guidance.

    Directs Commission to review certain materials during rulemaking, and annually review these materials thereafter to determine if the MCL’s should be modified. Specifies that the MCL’s must be protective of public health including vulnerable subpopulations such as pregnant and nursing mothers, infants, and children, which state MCLs shall not exceed any MCL or health advisory established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.