Bill of the Day: Monitoring PFAS Contamination
Last updated March 16th, 2026.
Sewage sludge applied to crop fields is unmonitored for PFAS, which leads to contamination of our food and water. Photo by Steve Owens.
What is PFAS and Why Is It Bad?
PFAS are the “forever chemicals” that are dangerous to human health and the environment. They are commonly known as “forever chemicals” because, unlike most other chemicals, they do not break down but instead build up and persist in our bodies, soil, water, and wildlife for generations.
PFAS water pollution is a statewide problem in Virginia. PFAS have already been detected in 16 drinking water utilities, impacting the drinking water of 2.5 million Virginians. Particularly concerning is the unmonitored levels of PFAS in applied sewage sludge that contaminate soil, crops, ground- and surface water resources. Sewage sludge applied to farmland leaks PFAS contaminants into the food we at and the water we drink.
Virginia does not currently require testing, disclosure, or limits on PFAS from private wells or in sewage sludge, the residual solid waste of wastewater treatment that includes the material marketed as “biosolids” to farmers.
You can take a deeper dive into PFAS in Our Common Agenda. To learn more, read our “Stopping PFAS Pollution at its Source” policy paper.
Bills to Support PFAS Monitoring in the General Assembly
(Delegate Clark) Requires PFAS to be monitored and reported to DEQ by industrial users of wastewater discharges. Companion to SB138.
(Delegate Amy Laufer): Allows local governments to test and monitor the land application of sewage sludge for emerging contaminants, including PFAS.
(Senator McPike) Requires PFAS to be monitored and reported to DEQ by industrial users of wastewater discharges Companion to HB938.
(Senator Aird) Eliminates the use of PFAS in firefighting foams at the Richmond International Airport to reduce PFAS runoff into our waterways.
(Senator Richard Stuart): Prohibits the application of sewage sludge that contains PFAS.
(Delegate Hillary Pugh Kent): Directs wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to sample and test sewage sludge for PFAS monthly. Incorporated into HB1443.
(Delegate Ellen McLaughlin): Establishes and funds a Residential Well Water Testing and Treatment Program and Fund to protect users of private wells from PFAS contamination.
Take Action
HB938 passed the Senate [40-Y 0-N]. HB1072 passed the Senate [23-Y 17-N]. SB138 passed the House [95-Y 0-N]. SB293 passed the House [96-Y 0-N]. SB386 passed the House [86-Y 12-N]. Next, the Governor will sign, amend, or veto all bills passed by the General Assembly by April 14th. Then, legislators will reconvene for a veto session on April 22nd to vote on all of the governor’s amendments.
Join us on April 24th for our General Assembly Recap to hear about our biggest victories, missed opportunities, and surprise outcomes during the General Assembly session!
See the real-time updates from Virginia’s Legislative Information System (LIS) on the bill tracker below: