WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mike Gallagher (WI-08), alongside Reps. Dan Kildee (MI-05), Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), and Ron Kind (WI-03), today introduced the Test Your Well Water Act. This bipartisan legislation would create an online tool on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website for Americans with a private well to find resources to test their drinking water and understand what those results mean.
“People deserve to know whether or not their water is contaminated by chemicals like PFAS,” said Rep. Gallagher. “This bill creates an easy-to-use tool that not only allows individuals to test their drinking water, but also allows local officials to develop a better understanding of where contamination may be. I’m proud to join Rep. Kildee in introducing this common-sense, bipartisan legislation.”
“Many communities, including Oscoda in my district, have for years been dealing with the impact of contaminated well water. Having an easy interactive online tool through the EPA will make it easier for people to test their well water and make sure it is safe to drink and free from PFAS chemicals,” said Rep. Kildee. “I am proud to have worked with both Republicans and Democrats on this legislation and I will continue to push legislation to make sure all Americans have access to clean drinking water and address PFAS.”
“PFAS contamination is a serious threat to public health, and an issue far too many communities across Wisconsin are currently dealing with,” said Rep. Kind. “Making sure well owners have an easy way to test and treat their drinking water to protect against PFAS is vital, and I’m proud to introduce this commonsense legislation with colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I’ll keep working to address PFAS contamination and ensure all Wisconsinites have access to safe, clean drinking water.”
“Upstate families deserve to know what is in their water. This bipartisan legislation will help enable residents to test their well water and ensure their personal water supply is free of toxic chemicals, like PFOA and PFAS,” said Rep. Delgado. “I will continue working alongside my colleagues to address PFAS contamination and deliver clean water to our communities. Congress must take up this common-sense legislation to increase transparency and keep our water safe.”
Nearly 43 million Americans get their drinking water from private wells or sources that are not regulated by both the federal and state government. This tool would promote transparency and modernize access to EPA resources to help people ensure their drinking water is safe to drink.
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HERE for bill text.
