ERG’s Steph Tatham Speaks to a Full House on PFAS Panel at Legislative Summit

Steph Tatham, ERG senior drinking water and water quality expert, served on a panel at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit in Boston, Massachusetts, earlier this month. The panel, “The PFAS Puzzle: Putting the Pieces Together,” delved into issues that recent federal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulations have raised for state and local governments around public communication and education, liability, monitoring, and clean-up. Alongside experts from the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, the Rye Water District, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Tatham discussed how states are managing PFAS water contamination, the challenges that small water systems face, and what’s in store for future PFAS regulation, mitigation, and funding. PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” have increasingly been in the news due to their lasting impacts on the environment and risks to people's health. 

“It was a privilege to share our insights on the challenges small systems face with legislators and staff from across the country,” Tatham said of the panel. “At ERG, we know that small communities often operate with limited resources, yet they shoulder the same responsibility to deliver safe, clean drinking water. Helping these systems navigate complex regulations, tap into federal funding and support, and implement practical solutions to PFAS challenges is deeply meaningful work.” 

The annual Legislative Summit connects legislators and legislative staff from across the country and offers an array of informative, engaging panels and policy sessions. With over 9,000 registrants, this year’s 50th Anniversary Legislative Summit was the NCSL’s largest ever, and “The PFAS Puzzle” drew a full crowd. 

The publication Governing covered the event and featured Tatham’s comments. 

Read more about what ERG is doing to address the challenges of PFAS around the country.