On Tuesday, June 16, the American Water Works Association cohosted a PFAS Policy and Practice Briefing for Congressional Staff focused on the role of local government and essential public services. VBC’s own AlexRenew participated in the discussion, joining representatives from research, local governments and drinking water. The panel was designed to educate congressional staff on the impacts of PFAS and CERCLA liability specifically on passive receivers. Wastewater treatment plants do not produce PFAS but receive PFAS from a plethora of sources and are obligated to process the wastewater accordingly and support communities across Virginia and the nation.
Amanda Waters, General Counsel and Deputy General Manager, AlexRenew voiced the concerns of public wastewater utilities grappling with the real-world implications of PFAS liability under CERCLA. “AlexRenew serves over 300,000 residents in Alexandria and Fairfax County, treating 38 million gallons of wastewater a day. We rely on regulators to set clear, science-based targets. Our job is to meet those targets—and we do. That’s why we need a narrow, targeted exemption from CERCLA for highly regulated, transparent public entities like AlexRenew. This preserves the core intent of CERCLA—polluter accountability—without diverting resources needed to protect the environment and public health.”
VBC members are commitment to a Code of Good Practice, requiring an ongoing effort to go beyond compliance with the state’s extensive regulatory requirements for biosolids. The Code of Good Practice also addresses social responsibility and the need for transparency to the public. Read our Code of Good Practice and most recent Annual Report HERE.