$13.5 Million Investment Coming to Arizona to Address PFAS, ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water from Kelly and Sinema’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law led by Sinema and shaped by Kelly provides $13,587,000 to address emerging contaminants like PFAS in drinking water across Arizona

Arizona senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema announced that $13,587,000 will be invested in Arizona to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals,” to protect Arizona communities and the environment from contamination. The funding comes from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly.

The investment from the bipartisan infrastructure law was allocated to Arizona through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program – a financial assistance program to help water systems and states protect the public health of local communities – with the primary purpose of addressing PFAS and other harmful contaminants.

“Expanding and protecting Arizonans’ access to clean drinking water has been one of my top priorities in the Senate. I’m glad to announce we secured $13 million from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to ensure that our precious water resources are safe, clean, and contaminant free,” said Senator Mark Kelly. 

“‘Forever chemicals’ like PFAS threaten the health and safety of Arizona communities by putting drinking water at risk and exposing servicemembers, firefighters, and everyday Arizonans to toxic substances. I’m proud that through our negotiations of our bipartisan infrastructure law we secured over $13 million to address these contaminants, protect Arizonans’ health, and safeguard our environment,” said Sinema, co-author and lead negotiator of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law.

PFAS – also known as “forever chemicals” – are dangerous pollutants contaminating drinking water sources. Studies have shown that PFAS exposure may negatively affect the growth and learning of infants, increase the risk of cancer, and harm the immune system, among other adverse health effects.

PFAS has been detected in the groundwater near numerous military bases in Arizona, including: Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, and the grounds of the decommissioned Williams Air Force Base in Maricopa County.

Sinema and Kelly’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law makes a historic $10 billion investment to address forever chemicals contamination. Of this funding, Arizona is set to receive $109 million in 2022 alone from the Environmental Protection Agency to address clean and drinking water systems, update wastewater infrastructure, and help clean-up water contaminants like PFAS in communities across the state.

The bipartisan infrastructure law makes the strongest investment in clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in U.S. history, delivering clean water to millions of American families – and more than $8 billion to strengthen water infrastructure throughout the American West, such as aging infrastructure, water storage, water recycling, drought contingency plans and dam safety. 

Sinema led bipartisan Senate negotiations with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio that included Senator Kelly and senators from both parties.

The bipartisan infrastructure law was supported by groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, The National Association of Manufacturers, The AFL-CIO, The National Retail Federation, The Bipartisan Policy Center, North America’s Building Trades Unions, the Outdoor Industry Association, The American Hotel and Lodging Association, The National Education Association, as well as hundreds of mayors across all 50 states.