State Water Resources Control Board: PFAS Mitigation Program.

Senator McNerney's PFAS mitigation legislation establishes a dedicated fund to help water suppliers and sewer system providers address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in California's water systems. The bill creates the PFAS Mitigation Fund in the State Treasury to provide grants, loans, contracts, and technical assistance for treating drinking water, recycled water, and wastewater to meet state and federal PFAS standards.

The fund would support construction or upgrades of treatment facilities, monitoring infrastructure, and proper disposal of PFAS contamination. Water suppliers and sewer system providers must demonstrate clear community benefits related to safe drinking water, recycled water, or treated wastewater to receive funding. The State Water Resources Control Board would manage the fund, with authority to incorporate nonstate, federal, and private funding sources alongside state appropriations. Administrative costs are capped at 5% of total funds.

The legislation requires the State Board to develop implementation guidelines through a public process, including funding criteria and grant parameters. These guidelines must be informed by two public workshops and stakeholder input. The program becomes operational upon legislative appropriation, with the State Board directed to ensure equitable consideration of funding requests across California regions.