PFAS Response and Remediation Costs for Mississippi Water Systems

PFAS Compliance Brings Significant Financial Pressure

The EPA’s 2024 PFAS rules established maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) that many Mississippi water systems cannot meet without significant infrastructure investment, expanded monitoring, or both. For systems facing compliance gaps, the financial pressure is real, ongoing, and growing.

The question every water system board and operator needs answered: Who pays?

Categories of Response and Remediation Costs

Depending on system size, source water characteristics, contamination level, and existing infrastructure, PFAS response costs typically fall into three categories:

Capital Costs

• Treatment system installation or upgrades (granular activated carbon, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, or other technologies as appropriate)
• Distribution system modifications
• Engineering studies and design
• Site preparation and construction

Operating Costs

• Ongoing treatment media replacement and disposal
• Energy and operational overhead
• Routine testing and monitoring
• Staff training and certification

Administrative and Compliance Costs

• Regulatory compliance reporting
• Public notification and communication
• Board, ratepayer, and stakeholder engagement
• Legal and consulting support

Costs vary substantially based on system size, source water characteristics, treatment needs, and regulatory requirements. Smaller systems may face proportionally higher per-customer costs than larger systems. The specific cost picture for your system requires a system-specific review.

Who Should Pay These Costs

One of the fundamental founding principles of Forever Justice Alliance℠ is that we are committed to full justice for Mississippians affected by Forever Chemicals (PFAS). We are determined to prevent local water systems and municipalities from getting left “holding the bag” on this issue.

The corporations who made money discharging these chemicals should be the ones who pay to clean it up and make things right. Not the ratepayers. Not the local taxpayers.

How FJA Helps Water Systems Recover These Costs

Through coordinated local, regional, and national litigation, FJA pursues compensation for the full range of PFAS-related costs water systems face:

• Capital infrastructure for PFAS removal
• Ongoing treatment operating costs
• Past response costs already incurred
• Future monitoring and testing
• Strategic communications support during the response period

We advance 100% of litigation costs. Your water system pays nothing out of pocket and absorbs no financial risk. Legal fees are recovered only from a recovery.