Summary

Requires the Department of Defense to provide alternative drinking water to private households located downgradient from a military installation when those households have private wells contaminated by PFOS or PFOA above the EPA maximum contaminant level, provided another household in the same community was already eligible for DoD-provided alternative water at that installation. Alternative drinking water can include bottled water, connection to a public water system, or home filtration; the requirement begins on the date of enactment and is carried out consistent with CERCLA and other environmental laws, with exceptions when households are already connected to municipal water or when CERCLA actions have eliminated exposure.

Key Points

• Requires DoD to offer alternative drinking water to private households downgradient from military installations with PFOS/PFOA contamination above EPA limits, if another household in the same community was already eligible for DoD-provided water.
• Alternative drinking water options include bottled water, public water system connections, or in-home filtration systems.
• DoD must implement the requirement consistent with CERCLA and other environmental laws and coordinate it with other PFAS response activities.
• DoD is not required to provide alternative water if affected households are connected to municipal water or if CERCLA actions have already met applicable PFAS drinking water standards.
• The requirement applies only to wells contaminated solely by DoD activities at the installation in question.
• The duty begins on the date of enactment and extends to eligible households in the same community as an already-eligible household.
• The provision relies on existing statutory definitions and remediation frameworks (CERCLA, Safe Drinking Water Act).
• This directive does not itself appropriate funds; implementation would use DoD authorities and remediation processes.

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