An Act relative to the protection of our drinking water from nitrosodimethylamine

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Dave Robertson

Establish MA NDMA drinking-water MCLs; DEP enforces exceedances and reports annually, ensuring utilities meet NDMA limits and protect public health.

Senate concurred

Summary: An Act relative to the protection of our drinking water from nitrosodimethylamine (HD 3195)

Overview

Bill number: House Docket No. 3195 (HD 3195)

Title: An Act relative to the protection of our drinking water from nitrosodimethylamine

Status: Senate concurred; referred to the Senate or House committee on Environment and Natural Resources (procedural note: as of filing, Senate concurrence occurred on 2025-02-27)

Introduced: February 27, 2025

Principal sponsor: Rep. David Allen Robertson (Tewksbury)

Context: See a similar measure previously filed in 2023-24 as House No. 885

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to establish explicit Massachusetts-specific maximum containment levels (MCLs) for nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in drinking water and to require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to enforce those standards. It aims to ensure NDMA levels in public drinking water do not pose health risks and to formalize DEP oversight and reporting related to NDMA testing.

Key provisions

Legislative amendment: Adds Section 7 to Chapter 21A of the General Laws (as amended) to create a framework for NDMA containment standards.

DEP duties related to NDMA:

Review existing Guidelines on drinking water chemicals to classify Massachusetts maximum containment levels for harmful compounds, specifically setting the MA MCL for NDMA.
Promulgate MA MCLs for NDMA that define the maximum safe concentration in drinking water.
Upon reports of NDMA levels above the MA MCL, provide copies of those reports to the Clerks of the House and Senate.
Treat any NDMA level above the MA MCL as if it were a violation of the drinking water regulation 310 CMR 22.00.
Use its enforcement authority under 310 CMR 22.01(2) to enforce the MA NDMA MCL standard.
Produce an annual report to the Clerks of the House and Senate detailing the total number of drinking water examinations conducted in the Commonwealth and how many exceeded the MA MCL for NDMA.

Who/what is affected

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP): Responsible for reviewing guidelines, setting the MA NDMA MCL, enforcing compliance, and issuing annual reports.

Public drinking water supplies/utilities in Massachusetts: Must comply with the established MA MCL for NDMA and face enforcement actions if NDMA levels exceed the standard.

Drinking water testing laboratories and regulatory agencies: Subject to the new reporting and enforcement framework.

General public/consumers: Potentially benefit from clearer NDMA protections in drinking water and more transparent monitoring data.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative path: Introduced February 27, 2025; Senate concurred on the same day; referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

Legal mechanism: Changes Section 7 of Chapter 21A by addition of NDMA provisions; relies on existing 310 CMR 22.00/22.01 enforcement framework for implementation.

Historical note: The measure references a similar bill filed in the prior session (HB 885 of 2023-24), indicating ongoing consideration of NDMA drinking water protections.

Practical impact

If enacted, the bill would formalize an NDMA-specific MA MCL, mandate DEP enforcement for exceedances, and require regular public-facing reporting on testing and NDMA incidence in drinking water. This could affect testing regimes, utility compliance costs, and the regulatory approach to NDMA in Massachusetts drinking water.