Water Quality News
The latest on drinking water regulations, contamination events, and EPA enforcement actions.
Golden Alga: The Toxic Bloom Standard Water Treatment Wasn't Built to Handle
As blooms hit US reservoirs earlier than ever in 2026, the EPA is studying golden alga — a fish-killing organism standard treatment isn't built to remove.
Iran-Linked Hackers Claim Breach of California Water Utilities in Bakersfield, Visalia, and Chico
Iran-linked hackers claim they stole 5GB from California Water Service billing systems, but analysts found no damage to treatment or control systems.
North Carolina Awards $244 Million for Water Projects Across 28 Counties as Demand Far Outstrips Funds
Gov. Stein and NC DEQ announced $244M for drinking water and wastewater projects, but applicants requested $1.6 billion — six times what was available.
Extreme Drought Grips South Carolina's Pee Dee Basin as Loris Doubles Water Rates
Loris, SC activated mandatory drought rules July 1, doubling rates above 6,000 gallons as extreme drought spread across the Pee Dee River Basin.
Texas Hill Country Floods Trigger Boil-Water Notices as Turbidity Overwhelms Treatment Plants
Guadalupe River flooding pushed a Texas treatment plant past turbidity limits, triggering boil-water notices for dozens of Hill Country communities.
Anson County, NC Enters Second Week of Boil Water Advisory After Repeated Highway 74 Main Breaks
A week after a July 7 main break, Anson County, NC remains under a boil water advisory. A second break and stalled repairs may cut service for days.
Congress Cut $125 Million From the Final Year of Lead-Pipe Funding, Redirecting It to Wildfire Management
The FY2026 lead-pipe fund was cut $125M and redirected to wildland fire management, leaving $2.875 billion — the last year of the IIJA's $15B commitment.
Cyclospora Outbreak 2026 Hits 34 States and ~7,000 Cases — Is Your Drinking Water at Risk?
A record 2026 cyclospora outbreak has sickened ~7,000 people across 34 states. What the parasite is, why your tap water almost certainly isn't the source.
The Public Comment Window on EPA's PFAS Rollback Closes July 20 — What's at Stake
Public comments on EPA's two PFAS drinking-water rules close July 20, 2026: one rescinds limits for four PFAS, the other pushes PFOA/PFOS to 2031.
Marion, Ohio Quietly Loosened a Toxic Metal Limit as Its Sewer System Strains Under Landfill Leachate
Marion, Ohio raised its molybdenum discharge limit 200% and is racing to build a leachate plant, raising risks to biosolids and the sewer system.
Roanoke Valley Enters Voluntary Water Restrictions as Virginia Drought Warning Widens
Salem and the Western Virginia Water Authority began voluntary water restrictions July 9 as a drought warning covers 12 of Virginia's 13 regions.
Iowa's Nitrate Drinking Water Violations Doubled in 2025, State Report Finds
Iowa recorded 36 nitrate violations in 2025, double 2024's count. Nitrate was the state's most-violated health standard, at 41% of the total.
Congress Demands Answers From Meta Over Cheyenne Water Contamination
Rep. Harriet Hageman has written to Mark Zuckerberg demanding answers on the bacterium Meta's contractor discharged into Cheyenne's reuse water system.
Mid-July 2026 Boil-Water Roundup: East Point, West Columbia, and Anson County
Mid-July boil-water advisories: a sinkhole main break in East Point GA, four advisories in West Columbia SC, a 24-hour outage in Anson County NC.
Portland Locks In 9.8% Annual Water Hikes as San Francisco Bills Jump 10.5%
Portland approved $525M in bonds and rate hikes that double water bills within a decade. San Francisco's 10.5% increase hit July 1. It's national.
Raleigh's Water Restrictions Aren't Working — Usage Went Up, Not Down
Falls Lake is at 62% and falling 2-3 points a week. Yet Raleigh Water demand rose 8% in June. Nearly half of irrigation meters are in violation.
AFFF Firefighting-Foam Litigation Tops 15,240 Injury Claims as Trials Slip Again
The AFFF MDL holds 15,240+ injury claims and now faces a foreign-government lawsuit too, after Australia sued 3M over PFAS at 28 military bases.
Chicago's Lead Pipe Replacements Cost 6 Times the National Average — $31,000 a Line
Chicago pays $31,000 per lead service line versus the EPA's $4,700 national estimate, putting its full replacement bill above $12 billion.
Corpus Christi's Reservoirs Hit 8.5% as the City Plans Mandatory 25% Water Cuts
Corpus Christi's reservoirs sit near 8.5% full. The city has a plan to cut water use 25% — including its petrochemical giants — if an emergency hits.
Data Centers Are Fouling Local Water Systems in Wyoming and Georgia
A Meta contractor contaminated Cheyenne's reuse water with bacteria; a Georgia data center left nearby wells running brown. Two incidents, one pattern.
Lab Tests Find PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' in Tap Water at the Capitol and EPA HQ
Exclusive tests at 11 DC-area sites, including the US Capitol and EPA's own lobby, found PFOA and PFHxA in most samples as EPA moves to loosen PFAS limits.
Early July 2026 Boil-Water Roundup: Maryland, Georgia, and a St. Louis Pump Failure
Early-July 2026 boil-water advisories: a 16-inch main break in Prince George's County MD, a power outage in metro Atlanta, and a pump trip in St. Louis.
EPA Approves Three More 'Forever Chemical' Pesticides That Break Down Into TFA
EPA approved epyrifenacil, diflufenican, and trifludimoxazin for corn, soybeans, and wheat — pesticides that break down into the PFAS contaminant TFA.
Billions in PFAS Settlement Money Could Evaporate as Utility Claim Deadlines Hit This Summer
DuPont's June 30 PFAS claim deadline has passed. 3M's July 31 deadline and an August 1 Special Needs Fund cutoff for both settlements are next.
Richmond Issues First Voluntary Water Restrictions Since 2002 as Virginia Drought Deepens
Richmond and five Virginia counties began voluntary water conservation July 1 as James River flows hit drought triggers not seen since 1941.
Tampa Bay's Worst Drought in 50 Years Forces Stage 3 Emergency and Once-a-Week Watering
Tampa Bay's Stage 3 drought emergency has been extended through October 1 as rainfall deficits and low reservoirs persist across 11+ Florida counties.
Chemours to Pay Over $450 Million in First Federal PFAS Settlement — but North Carolina Wasn't at the Table
EPA and DOJ announced a $450M-plus settlement with Chemours on June 24 over PFAS in three rivers — even as EPA moves to roll back drinking-water limits.
Record Heat Drives One of the Worst Toxic Algae Years on Record — and Drinking Water Is in the Crosshairs
A hot summer is fueling severe cyanobacteria blooms in 2026, raising the risk of microcystin breaking through to drinking water. Here's what to know.
New Orleans East Under Boil-Water Advisory After Main Break Drops Pressure Below 20 PSI
A June 27 water main break sent pressure below 20 psi in New Orleans East, triggering a boil-water advisory for Little Woods and Oak Island.
Raleigh Calls Its Drought 'Unique and Unprecedented' as Falls Lake Hits Levels Never Seen in Recorded History
Raleigh Water says Falls Lake fell below 85% in April for the first time on record. Stage 1 enforcement is ramping up as the reservoir keeps dropping.
Beyond the Colorado River: Utah and Washington Drought Push the Great Basin and Pacific Northwest to the Edge
Utah's snowpack hit its lowest on record and Washington declared a fourth straight drought, draining the Great Salt Lake and Yakima Basin in 2026.
Colorado Declares Statewide Drought Emergency as Lake Powell Nears Hydropower Cutoff
Colorado declared a statewide drought emergency June 4 as Lake Powell may fall below its 3,490-ft minimum power pool by August 2026.
DuPont PFAS Settlement: Water Systems Face June 30 Action Fund Deadline
Phase 2 water systems must file DuPont Action Fund claims by June 30, 2026 or forfeit recovery from the $1.185B PFAS settlement.
Durham Moves to Stage 2 Water Restrictions as Triangle Hits Exceptional Drought
Durham activates Stage 2 water restrictions June 15 as parts of the NC Triangle reach exceptional drought (D4). Spray irrigation banned; big users cut 30%.
Late June 2026 Boil-Water Roundup: New Jersey, Ohio, and a Florida E. coli Detection
Late-June 2026 boil-water advisories: main breaks in Bridgewater NJ and Akron's Portage Lakes, plus an E. coli well detection in Florida.
Wilson County, NC Imposes Mandatory Water Restrictions as Drought Deepens
Wilson County, NC ordered mandatory water restrictions June 19, 2026 — a 10% cut and ½-inch weekly irrigation cap — in its second-driest year in 132 years.
American Water Locks In Rate Hikes in California ($24M) and Virginia ($16M)
California and Virginia American Water reached June 2026 rate settlements — $24M and $16M — as capital spending pushes investor-owned water bills up.
Fort Worth Boil-Water Notice After 24-Inch Main Rupture Hits Northside, Lake Worth
A 24-inch main rupture forced a boil-water notice for Fort Worth's near northside and Lake Worth on June 15, 2026. TCEQ lifted it June 16 after testing.
EPA Sets July 7 Public Hearing on PFAS Rollback — Here's How to Comment by July 20
EPA holds a virtual July 7 hearing on its PFAS rescission and PFOA/PFOS extension rules. Written comments close July 20; verbal sign-up ends July 1.
Greensboro Under Stage 2 Restrictions as Guilford County Hits Extreme Drought
Greensboro Water imposed NCUC Stage 2 mandatory restrictions March 31. Guilford County is in extreme drought with Lake Brandt and Townsend below normal.
Maine's PFAS-From-Sludge Crisis Drives a Surge in Blood Testing as Fund Runs Low
Maine spread PFAS-laden sludge on farmland for decades. Now 600+ families get free blood tests and 500 wells have filters as its PFAS Fund runs low.
Mid-June 2026 Boil-Water Roundup: DC, South Carolina, Florida, and North Carolina
A mid-June cluster of boil-water advisories hit DC (4,970 customers), West Columbia SC, Tavares FL, and Mount Holly NC — all from pressure-loss events.
NC's Driest Year Since 1895: Exceptional Drought Pushes 12+ Cities Into Mandatory Water Restrictions
NC DEQ introduces 'exceptional drought' April 30, Catawba Basin hits Stage 2 May 1. A dozen cities now under mandatory water restrictions.
1.85 Million New Yorkers on Lead Pipes as $2B Delaware Aqueduct Fix Slips Past 2027
NYC's DEP says ~1.85M residents may get water through lead service lines as the $2B Delaware Aqueduct bypass repair is delayed past 2027 amid drought.
NYC and Northeast Drought Deepens — Massachusetts Escalates to Level 3 Critical
NYC reservoirs sit near 68% vs 83% normal; Massachusetts escalated its Northeast region to Level 3 Critical Drought as the dry pattern held into June 2026.
Raleigh Activates Stage 1 Water Restrictions as Triangle Drought Deepens
Raleigh Water moved to Stage 1 mandatory irrigation rules April 20. Falls Lake supplies 600K+ residents in the Triangle as severe drought persists.
Camp Lejeune Update: $723M Paid, $907M Offered — and Still No Bellwether Trial
The government has paid roughly $723M and offered $907M in Camp Lejeune settlements as of June 2026 — yet under 1% of 408,860 claims are resolved.
Lead-Pipe Progress: Connecticut Gets $27.4M as Fairfax Water Nears the Finish Line
Connecticut wins $27.4M to replace up to 8,000 lead service lines as Fairfax Water nears zero ahead of the November 2027 federal deadline.
EWG Analysis: 176 Million Americans Drink PFAS-Contaminated Tap Water
EWG's analysis of EPA data shows 176M people drink PFAS-contaminated tap water across 9,728 sites — as the EPA moves to weaken four PFAS limits.
June 2026 Boil-Water Advisories: DC, New Jersey, North Carolina and Michigan
Main breaks and a pump failure put ~10,000 customers under boil-water advisories across DC, NJ, NC and Michigan in early June 2026.
Colorado River Heads Into Its Driest Year on Record as Arizona Cities Tighten Water Rules
Lake Mead and Lake Powell are near record lows, Arizona's CAP deliveries are cut, and Phoenix-area cities are on Stage 2 drought rules as 2026 talks stall.
EPA Moves to Rescind Four PFAS Drinking-Water Limits and Push the PFOA/PFOS Deadline to 2031
EPA's May 18 proposal would rescind limits on GenX, PFHxS, PFNA and the Hazard Index, and let utilities delay PFOA/PFOS compliance to 2031.
Trump's FY2027 Budget Would Cut Water Infrastructure Funds 90% — to Bipartisan Pushback
The proposed FY2027 EPA budget would slash the State Revolving Funds ~90%, gutting the main programs that pay for lead-pipe and PFAS removal nationwide.
Atlanta Boil-Water Advisory: Hemphill Plant Power Failure Hits 50,000 Downtown Customers
A May 22 power failure at Atlanta's Hemphill plant cut pressure and triggered a boil-water advisory for ~50,000 customers. It was lifted May 23.
PFAS Pesticides Found in Half of California Surface Water and Sediment Tests, EWG Reports
An EWG analysis found the PFAS pesticide bifenthrin in ~half of California surface water and over half of sediment samples — and likely an undercount.
EPA Releases $2.9 Billion in FY2026 Lead-Pipe Funding — $125M Below Last Year
EPA's FY2026 lead-pipe allotments total $2.875B — Illinois $295.6M, Ohio $201.8M, NY $185.2M — after Congress cut $125M and redirected it to wildfire.
EPA Gives Pennsylvania $39 Million for PFAS — the Same Week It Moves to Rescind PFAS Limits
EPA awarded Pennsylvania $39.2M to address PFAS in drinking water on May 25 — days after proposing to repeal four federal PFAS standards.
Louisiana's 2026 Water Report Card: 58 Public Systems Fail, Including Shreveport
Louisiana graded 909 public water systems for 2026 — 67% earned an A, but 58 failed, led by Shreveport and arsenic violations in Rayville.
EPA Redirects $4.1 Billion to States for Lead Pipe Removal — and Cuts the National Estimate in Half
EPA reallocates $4.1B for lead service line removal as updated state inventories drop the national estimate from 9.2M to 4M pipes.
Milwaukee Races to Replace 65,000 Lead Pipes by 2037 — and the Federal Money Runs Out First
Milwaukee plans 5,000 lead service line replacements in 2026, but the $650M program runs past the 2027 federal funding cliff.
Oakland County Water Emergency: GLWA Lifts Final Boil Water Advisories After 42-Inch Main Break
GLWA lifted the final Oakland County boil water advisories May 16, six days after a 42-inch transmission main ruptured in Auburn Hills.
Pittsburgh Water Rates Jump 10.2% — $25M Settlement Approved as Infrastructure Costs Catch Up
Pennsylvania PUC approved a $25M, 10.2% rate increase for Pittsburgh Water. Typical residential bills rise about $15 per month starting March 8.
Charlotte's Stage 2 Water Restrictions Take Effect Today — First Mandatory Cuts Since 2009
Charlotte Water's Stage 2 mandatory restrictions take effect today, May 15 — first since 2009. Cascade extends across the Catawba-Wateree basin.
Colorado's Worst Snowpack on Record: Denver Stage 1, Erie Level 4 Emergency, Aurora Stage 1
Colorado snowpack hit record lows. Denver Water's first Stage 1 in 13 years, Erie came hours from running out, Aurora Stage 1. Front Range tightens.
Concord and Kannapolis Impose Mandatory Level 2 Water Restrictions as Lake Fisher Drops
Concord and Kannapolis, NC imposed mandatory Level 2 water restrictions May 15, 2026 as Lake Fisher dropped and Cabarrus stayed in extreme drought.
Huntsville Utilities Sues 3M, DuPont, Daikin Over PFAS in Tennessee River Drinking Water
Huntsville Utilities sued 3M, DuPont, Chemours, BASF, and Daikin alleging PFAS in the Tennessee River pushed treated water above EPA limits.
May 2026 NC Boil Water Advisory Roundup: Chadbourn, Grifton, Western NC
May 2026 NC boil water advisories: Chadbourn, Grifton (lifted), and Western NC precautionary. Drought stress is driving more distribution failures.
Microplastics Monitoring Push: What UCMR 6 Could Mean
EPA's proposed UCMR 6 could require nationwide microplastics testing in drinking water. Here's what it would cover, who's affected, and when data would arrive.
Cape Fear River & GenX: Inside America's Most Consequential PFAS Contamination
How Chemours' Fayetteville Works contaminated drinking water for 250,000 North Carolinians — and reshaped the fight over next-gen PFAS.
Data Centers Are Drinking Your Water: How AI Cooling Strains Local Drinking Supplies
Google's data centers used 8.1B gallons in 2024. Loudoun County's grew 250% in four years. Inside the AI water bill — and what it means for your tap.
DuPont's C8 Scandal: How PFOA Poisoned Parkersburg and Changed American Water Law
The Mid-Ohio Valley PFOA contamination, Rob Bilott's 20-year legal fight, and the billion-dollar settlements that reshaped US PFAS policy.
Hinkley, California and Erin Brockovich: The Chromium-6 Case That Changed America
How PG&E poisoned a California desert town, one file clerk built a landmark lawsuit, and why the plume is still spreading decades later.
April 2026 Boil Water Advisory Roundup: What a Month of Notices Reveals About U.S. Water Infrastructure
From E. coli in Kannapolis to pump failures in Pennsylvania, April 2026 saw a cluster of boil water advisories across the country. The pattern is the story.
DOJ and Maryland Sue D.C. Water Over 240-Million-Gallon Potomac Sewage Spill
Federal and state lawsuits target D.C. Water for the January Potomac Interceptor collapse. The utility allegedly knew the 72-inch pipe was corroding for years.
E. Coli Contamination Triggers Boil Water Notice for Kannapolis, NC and Landis
Kannapolis detected E. coli in finished drinking water on April 24, 2026. The boil water notice was lifted at 6 p.m. on April 25 after clean samples confirmed by NCDEQ.
EWG Map: 62 Million Americans Drink Tap Water With Cancer-Linked Nitrate Levels
A first-of-its-kind EWG map shows 6,000+ U.S. water systems serve nitrate at or above 3 mg/L — a level linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and birth defects.
Saltwater in Drinking Water Linked to Higher Blood Pressure in 74,000-Person Meta-Analysis
A new FIU-led meta-analysis ties saltier drinking water to a 26% higher hypertension risk. Coastal communities and saltwater intrusion zones face the biggest impact.
North Carolina Awards $215M for Water Infrastructure — $196M Goes to Hurricane Helene Recovery
NC DEQ awarded $215M for 66 water and wastewater projects across 26 counties, with $196M flowing to communities damaged by Hurricane Helene. Cumulative Helene total: $861M.
PFAS Settlement Deadlines Are Closing: $13.6 Billion Hinges on July 31, 2026
Water utilities have until July 31, 2026 to claim from the $10.3B 3M and $1.185B DuPont/Chemours/Corteva PFAS settlements. NRDC warns billions could go unclaimed.
State-Level PFAS Actions: Who's Leading the Way?
State-by-state PFAS drinking water MCLs. Which states set limits stricter than federal, which rely on EPA, and what the 2025 rollback changes.
Elm City, NC Logs 10 Consecutive Quarters of TTHM Violations Plus $80K in Wastewater Fines
Elm City, NC was fined for a 10th straight quarter of TTHM (disinfection byproduct) violations and $80,715 in wastewater violations. February 2026 inspection brought the first clean report.
Three PFAS Removal Breakthroughs in April 2026: Nano-Cages, pH Traps, and 98% Filters
Flinders University, FIU, and other research teams published PFAS removal advances in April 2026, including a 98% filter and tech that captures short-chain PFAS.
Maine Tightens PFAS Limits to 4 ppt — Sanford Lands $7.4M as Compliance Costs Mount
Maine adopted federal-aligned 4 ppt PFAS limits in January 2026. Sanford and four other water districts are getting $7.4M, but treatment will cost $25M+.
EPA Launches PFAS OUT to Help 3,000 Water Systems Tackle Forever Chemicals
EPA's April 14, 2026 PFAS OUT initiative targets ~3,000 drinking water systems with PFOA/PFOS challenges, ahead of the 2031 federal compliance deadline.
EPA Delays PFAS Use Decisions and TSCA Reporting Window — Again
EPA paused decisions on dozens of PFAS uses and pushed the long-awaited TSCA Section 8(a)(7) reporting window back from April 2026. What it means for water systems.
PFAS Regulation Rollback: The Fight Over Forever Chemical Limits
EPA's May 2025 plan pushes PFOA/PFOS compliance to 2031, aims to rescind MCLs for four other PFAS, and is tied up in litigation. Here's what's at stake.
EPA Issues All-Clear for Red Hill: Final Report Finds No Residual Fuel in Pearl Harbor Drinking Water
EPA's March 2026 final report confirms no residual fuel contamination in JBPHH and AMR water systems following the 2021 Red Hill release. But Hawaii's response continues.
EPA Adds Microplastics and Pharmaceuticals to Drinking Water Contaminant List for the First Time
EPA's draft CCL 6 flags microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS as priority drinking water contaminants. Here's what it means and when regulation could follow.
The Fluoride Drinking Water Controversy: 2026 Update
Utah and Florida banned water fluoridation in 2025, HHS moved to end CDC recommendations, and a 2024 NTP monograph linked high fluoride to lower IQ. Here's where things stand.
EPA Perchlorate Drinking Water Rule: What It Means for You
The EPA proposed its first-ever perchlorate MCL in January 2026. Here's what the three proposed limits mean and when your water system must comply.
EPA PFAS Drinking Water Rule: What Survived, What Got Cut, and What It Means for Your Tap Water
The EPA kept limits for PFOA and PFOS but moved to rescind standards for GenX and other PFAS. A federal court blocked the rollback. Here's where things stand in 2026.
Jackson, Mississippi's Water Crisis: From Collapse to Compliance — and the Fights That Remain
Jackson's water system achieved compliance in 2025 after years of failure. But rate hikes, governance battles, and a transition deadline are shaping what comes next.
Lead Pipe Replacement in America: Where $15 Billion in Funding Stands and What's Actually Changing
The EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements require all lead service lines replaced within 10 years. New data shows fewer pipes than feared — but funding fights and legal challenges loom.
UCMR 5 Results: PFAS Detected in Over 3,500 Water Systems Nationwide
The EPA's largest-ever PFAS monitoring program is 95% complete. Results show widespread contamination — and the data is reshaping federal regulation.