Indiana would set PFAS limits for drinking water and wastewater

Indiana environmental officials would set drinking water standards and PFAS limits for industrial wastewater released directly into state waters. The wastewater limits cover permit applicants and holders seeking to release PFAS industrial wastewater directly into Indiana waters. For already identified PFAS chemicals, the state could not allow more PFAS in drinking water than the 2024 federal limits allow. Officials must set the standards by July 1, 2027, and update limits for identified PFAS chemicals every four years.

The state would require direct and indirect dischargers to monitor PFAS in industrial wastewater and report detected levels each month. This covers those seeking or holding permits to release industrial wastewater directly into Indiana waters and entities sending it to public treatment plants, even unintentionally. Direct dischargers must monitor as part of their discharge permits. Indirect dischargers must use methods approved by the state. Both groups must send monthly reports to state and federal environmental officials. Both groups must meet discharge limits by July 1, 2029. Starting that day, direct discharge permits must include those limits.

The state could fine dischargers above PFAS limits, and people could sue dischargers for violations of these rules. The discharge limit duties and fines cover direct and indirect dischargers. People may sue either group for violations of the PFAS rules. Dischargers above the limits must make a cleanup plan and a program to prevent future PFAS releases. A violation lasting four months brings a state penalty of up to $500,000. People who sue must follow Indiana's environmental lawsuit rules. Cleanup duties and daily fines apply to discharge limit violations after July 1, 2029. A discharger that exceeds the limits then has four months to meet them.

Indiana environmental officials would run a PFAS fund and a grant program for filtering and testing. Grants would cover water utilities and volunteer fire departments setting up PFAS filtering, plus individuals testing wells and biosoils. The fund could also pay for cleanup after extreme PFAS exposure and blood tests, but only with money left after a funding round for filtering and well testing. Tenants and landlords could receive fund money for testing once a year or within three months of such cleanup. The department must create the grant program by July 1, 2029.