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November 21, 2024

EPA’s Tackling Emerging Contaminants Initiative Will Reduce Exposure to PFAS and Other Emerging Contaminants in Water

Lynn L. BergesonCarla N. Hutton

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on November 20, 2024, the launch of the Tackling Emerging Contaminants (TEC) initiative, a new, no-cost technical assistance effort focused on reducing exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants in small or disadvantaged communities. According to EPA, the objective of the TEC Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) is to support small or disadvantaged communities assess and address emerging contaminants and PFAS in drinking water, help connect more communities to historic federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and help communities comply with the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR). EPA is offering this no-cost service to support communities with diagnostic water quality sampling and analysis, source water assessment, preliminary treatment design and evaluations, and identifying solutions to address emerging contaminant and PFAS contamination. Communities that need assistance with addressing emerging contaminants and PFAS can submit a request for support through EPA’s WaterTA request form. EPA will accept communities on a rolling basis. There is no deadline to submit a request for WaterTA.