A bill to require the provision of alternative drinking water to households whose private drinking water is contaminated with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid substances from activities of the Department of Defense.

S.3445, introduced on December 11, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Armed Services, mandates the Department of Defense (DoD) to offer alternative drinking water to households whose private wells are contaminated with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) due to DoD activities. The bill specifies conditions for eligibility, including proximity to a military installation, contamination exceeding EPA maximum contaminant levels, and a precedent of other households in the same community receiving alternative water. This bill is an authorization bill, not an appropriation. It sets a policy requirement for the DoD but does not explicitly allocate funds. The implementation of this requirement would depend on subsequent appropriations. The bill directs the Secretary of Defense to coordinate these efforts with existing environmental laws, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). The financial burden of providing alternative drinking water would fall on the DoD, potentially increasing operational costs for environmental remediation programs. Structural winners, if this bill were to pass and be funded, would include companies involved in water treatment, water infrastructure, and environmental remediation services. These could include firms specializing in PFAS removal technologies or bottled water suppliers. However, without specific appropriation, no direct financial impact can be quantified at this stage. Conversely, the DoD would face increased costs for compliance. No specific tickers can be identified as direct beneficiaries at this early stage without further details on implementation and procurement. As of April 12, 2026, S.3445 is in the early stages of the legislative process, having only been introduced and referred to committee. The next step would typically involve committee hearings and potential markups. Its related bill, S.1071 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026), became Public Law No: 119-60, indicating that the issue of defense-related environmental concerns is part of broader legislative discussions. However, S.3445 itself has not seen further action since its introduction.