An Act to Protect the Drinking Water for Consumers of Certain
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1326
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: SHAGOURY, BENNETT, DAUGHTRY
Amends: 22 MRSA §2650-A

Legislative Document
No. 1326
H.P. 861
House of Representatives, March 27, 2025
An Act to Protect the Drinking Water for Consumers of Certain 
Water Systems by Establishing Maximum Contaminant Levels for 
Certain Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SHAGOURY of Hallowell.
Cosponsored by Senator BENNETT of Oxford and
Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, ARFORD of Brunswick, FLYNN of Albion, 
GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, PLUECKER of Warren, Senators: President 
DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, HICKMAN of Kennebec, INGWERSEN of York.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §2650-A is enacted to read:
§2650-A.  Drinking water standards, monitoring and treatment for perfluoroalkyl 
and polyfluoroalkyl substances
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Community water system" has the same meaning as in section 2660-B, subsection 
2.
B.  "Nontransient, noncommunity water system" has the same meaning as described in 
section 2660-B, subsection 5, paragraph A and is regulated as a nontransient, 
noncommunity water system for a school or child care facility under the federal Safe 
Drinking Water Act, 42 United States Code, Section 300f(16).
C.  "Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances" or "PFAS" has the same meaning 
as in section 2660-AA, subsection 3, including a regulated PFAS contaminant under 
subsection 2, that is detectable in drinking water using standard analytical methods 
established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
2.  Maximum contaminant levels for regulated PFAS contaminants.  The 
maximum contaminant levels for the following regulated PFAS contaminants allowed for 
a community water system or nontransient, noncommunity water system are:
A.  Perfluorooctanoic acid, 4 parts per trillion;
B.  Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, 4 parts per trillion;
C.  Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, 10 parts per trillion;
D.  Perfluorononanoic acid, 20 parts per trillion;
E.  Perfluoroheptanoic acid, 20 parts per trillion;
F.  Perfluorodecanoic acid, 10 parts per trillion;
G.  Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid, 10 parts per trillion; and
H.  Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid, 2,000 parts per trillion.
By rule, the commissioner may decrease the maximum level of a contaminant included in 
this subsection or add a regulated PFAS contaminant other than those specified in this 
subsection as the commissioner determines necessary to maintain an adequate margin of 
safety to protect human health at all stages, including prenatal development.  
3.  PFAS monitoring.  Beginning January 1, 2026, all community water systems and 
nontransient, noncommunity water systems shall conduct monitoring using standard 
analytical methods for the detectable level of PFAS established by the United States 
Environmental Protection Agency in effect at the time a sample was taken to perform the 
monitoring. Monitoring under this subsection must be conducted for all regulated PFAS 
contaminants under subsection 2 and additional PFAS included in the list of analytes in the 
standard analytical methods established by the United States Environmental Protection 
Agency in effect at the time a sample was taken to perform the monitoring. Initial 
monitoring must include 2 samples taken 5 to 7 months apart. If an initial sample indicates 
a contaminant level in an amount over 50% of the level of a contaminant listed in subsection 
2, the community water system or nontransient, noncommunity water system conducting 
the monitoring shall sample every 3 months until all contaminant levels are 50% or below 
the contaminant levels listed in subsection 2.  If an initial or subsequent sample does not 
indicate a contaminant level in an amount over 50% of the level of a contaminant listed in 
subsection 2, the community water system or nontransient, noncommunity water system 
conducting the monitoring shall sample annually. If 3 consecutive annual samples do not 
indicate a contaminant level in an amount over 50% of the level of a contaminant listed in 
subsection 2, the community water system or nontransient, noncommunity water system 
conducting the monitoring shall sample every 3 years. 
4.  Submission of drinking water samples; reporting.  When determined necessary 
by the department, a community water system or nontransient, noncommunity water 
system shall:
A.  Submit a water sample for determination of contaminant levels of regulated PFAS 
contaminants to an approved laboratory pursuant to section 2607;
B.  Report: 
(1)  Any failure to comply with department rules;
(2)  The results of tests, measurements or analyses of a drinking water sample under 
paragraph A; or
(3)  A change in ownership of the community water system or nontransient, 
noncommunity water system; and 
C.  Submit a monthly operational report.
5.  Treatment; notice.  Beginning January 1, 2029, if a monitoring result confirms the 
presence of a regulated PFAS contaminant in excess of the maximum contaminant level in 
subsection 2 or a combination of regulated PFAS contaminants exceeding 20 nanograms 
per liter in the drinking water of a community water system or nontransient, noncommunity 
water system, the department shall direct the community water system or nontransient, 
noncommunity water system to:
A.  Implement treatment or another remedy to reduce the level of PFAS or regulated 
PFAS contaminants in the drinking water to below 20 nanograms per liter; and
B.  Issue a notice to all users of the community water system or nontransient, 
noncommunity water system informing the users of the detected regulated PFAS 
contaminant concentration and potential risk to public health until the treatment or 
other remedy in paragraph A is completed and effective.
6.  Enforcement; appeal.  The department may enforce this section pursuant to section 
2605, subsection 5.  A person may appeal an act or decision of the department under this 
section pursuant to section 2620-A.
7.  Notification of suspected tampering.  A community water system or nontransient, 
noncommunity water system shall notify the department and law enforcement officials 
immediately of any act of potential or suspected tampering of the community water system 
or nontransient, noncommunity water system.
8.  Rules.  The department may adopt routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to carry out the purposes of this section.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes maximum levels of regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl 
substances in the drinking water of community water systems and nontransient, 
noncommunity water systems. The bill allows the Commissioner of Health and Human 
Services through rulemaking to lower the maximum levels of regulated PFAS contaminants 
or include additional PFAS contaminants to the list of regulated PFAS contaminants, 
requires beginning January 1, 2029 treatment and notice to consumers if PFAS 
contaminants are found in the drinking water of community water systems and 
nontransient, noncommunity water systems and requires the water systems to submit 
drinking water samples and report to the Department of Health and Human Services in a 
manner as determined by the department.
The bill also requires, beginning January 1, 2026, all community water systems and 
nontransient, noncommunity water systems to conduct monitoring of PFAS at detectable 
levels established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.