Reps. Russo, Rader Introduce Bill to Guarantee Safe Drinking Water in Ohio

COLUMBUS - State Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Tristan Rader (D-Lakewood) yesterday introduced a bill to protect Ohio's drinking water by providing state-level standards for drinking water that limit contaminant levels for common toxic chemicals such as PFAS, chromium-6, 1,4 dioxane, and others as the need arises.

"Access to clean drinking water is a basic necessity, not a luxury," said Rep. Russo. "Evidence has shown that PFAS and other known chemicals increase the risk of cancer, reduce fertility in women, interfere with hormones, and negatively affect the immune system and development of infants and children. These are preventable outcomes with commonsense standards, and it is the state's responsibility to protect the health and well-being of Ohioans."

Ohio has a long and unfortunate history with PFAS contamination, being at the front of a lawsuit that garnered national attention regarding DuPont dumping PFAS-contaminated water into the Ohio River. The resultant $110 million dollar settlement, however, does not protect Ohioans from current water contamination levels that are connected to heightened rates of thyroid and other cancers.

"Ohio families deserve clean water, not toxic chemicals. We've allowed PFAS pollution to persist for too long, and it's time to stop it," said Rep. Rader. "Regulating the amount of PFAS in our drinking water is a long overdue measure to prevent the types of environmental injustices that have happened in this state from occurring again."

This legislation is a reintroduction of House Bill 365 which was introduced during the 134th General Assembly but died in committee after receiving only one hearing. It will require the Director of Ohio's Environmental Protection Agency to adopt rules establishing maximum allowable contaminant levels in drinking and surface water for certain contaminants, including toxic fluorinated chemicals, known as PFAS or "forever chemicals."

The bill awaits a bill number and assignment to a House committee.