Bill

Bill > SB138


VA SB138

VA SB138
PFAS monitoring; DEQ to require for industrial wastewater source, publicly owned treatment works.


summary

Introduced
01/06/2026
In Committee
02/25/2026
Crossed Over
02/12/2026
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Regular Session

Bill Summary

Department of Environmental Quality; industrial wastewater; publicly owned treatment works; PFAS monitoring. Directs every publicly owned treatment works (POTW) to require certain new or industrial users of such POTW to perform and report to such POTW no later than 30 days after receipt from a laboratory the results as received of quarterly discharge monitoring for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for an initial characterization period of one year, provided, however, that such POTW may discontinue remaining quarterly monitoring by an industrial user with proper monitoring results that are below the method detection level for the first two quarters. If an industrial user detects PFAS in any amount above the detection method limit in its initial year of quarterly monitoring, the bill requires such industrial user to continue to perform and report to the POTW no later than 30 days after receipt from the laboratory the results as received of quarterly discharge monitoring for PFAS. The bill requires a POTW that receives PFAS monitoring results to report such results to the Department of Environmental Quality on a quarterly basis. Finally, the bill directs any POTW to notify an owner or operator of an industrial user subject to the monitoring requirements of the bill of the requirement to submit the initial quarterly monitoring results for PFAS within 30 days of the effective date of the bill.

AI Summary

This bill requires publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), which are facilities that treat wastewater from homes and businesses, to mandate that certain industrial users who discharge pollutants into them monitor for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for one year. PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that are persistent in the environment and have been linked to health problems. The bill specifies that industrial users, including manufacturers of PFAS, electroplating and metal finishing facilities, semiconductor and circuit board facilities, paper and packaging manufacturers, textile mills, centralized waste treatment facilities, industrial launderers, and certain airports, air bases, fire training facilities, and landfills, must conduct quarterly monitoring and report the results to the POTW. If PFAS are detected above a certain level, the industrial user must continue quarterly monitoring. New industrial users will have 90 days after starting discharges to submit their initial monitoring results. The bill also allows for reduced monitoring frequency if PFAS levels are consistently below detection limits and requires POTWs to report the collected PFAS monitoring data to the Department of Environmental Quality quarterly. The definition of "using PFAS" in this context refers to intentionally using these chemicals as ingredients or process aids, not just in manufacturing equipment.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

House Appropriations Hearing (00:00:00 3/2/2026 House Appropriations Committee Room - 1200) (on 03/02/2026)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...