Understanding PFAS and the WQTA
As the national conversation around PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and drinking water standards continues to evolve, Connecticut Water is committed to keeping our customers informed about how new regulations and industry-wide challenges may affect your water service and your bill.
What is the WQTA?
The Water Quality and Treatment Adjustment (WQTA) is a surcharge that will appear on customer bills starting in 2026. Passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont with input from state leaders, consumer advocates, and the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), the WQTA is designed to allow water utilities to recover approved investments in infrastructure projects needed to meet new state and federal drinking water regulations, including treatment for PFAS. The WQTA may also apply to other emerging contaminants in the future.
Connecticut Water will continue to meet federal drinking water standards while delivering reliable, high-quality service. The WQTA phases in actual treatment expenses over time to lessen rate spikes and support responsible, long-term investment in water quality. Without the WQTA, eligible treatment expenses would be added to rates all at once as part of full rate cases that typically happen every three or four years.
Why is this necessary?
In April 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized national, legally enforceable drinking water standards for PFAS. Under the current rule, public water systems must complete initial PFAS monitoring by April 26, 2027 and meet the standards by April 26, 2029.
Connecticut Water has already begun implementing treatment solutions and expects to dedicate more than $190 million to system upgrades to meet federal standards. The Water Quality and Treatment Adjustment (WQTA) is designed to phase in costs over time, helping to avoid single, larger changes on customer bills.
How does the WQTA work?
The WQTA will appear as a separate line item on customer bills beginning January 2026. The first charge is expected in April 2026, subject to PURA approval, and it will include actual expenses for PFAS-related treatment incurred in 2025 and 2024. Going forward, we expect 2026 water quality treatment expenses, which has been reviewed and approved by PURA, will be added to customer bills in April 2027.
This will gradually phase-in costs over time, rather than as a single large increase. The WQTA spreads the cost of water quality improvements across multiple years, resulting in smaller, incremental adjustments. This approach was developed with input from consumer advocates, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), and state legislators to help minimize the financial impact on customers.
Our commitment
Connecticut Water’s drinking water meets current state and federal regulations, including for PFAS. We are proud to work closely with state, federal, and local officials to advance best practices in water quality and transparency. We are committed to regularly testing our water sources and sharing the results publicly so you can be confident in the quality of your water. You can view Water Quality Reports on ctwater.com/quality.
Holding manufacturers accountable
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are man-made chemicals used for decades in products like non-stick cookware, food packaging, and firefighting foam.
It’s important to understand that PFAS compounds were introduced into the environment by manufacturers, not water utilities. Connecticut Water has joined a class-action lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers to help offset the cost of treatment. Any funds recovered through this process will be returned to customers, subject to PURA’s guidance. In certain cases, our efforts to return funds to customers have already begun.
In addition to legal action, Connecticut Water is actively seeking state funding [and pursuing grant opportunities] to further reduce costs for customers. These efforts reflect our commitment to minimizing the financial impact of PFAS treatment and ensuring that the burden does not fall solely on our customers.
Where can I get more information?
PFAS testing results are available at https://www.ctwater.com/water-quality-reports. For more information about PFAS and health impacts, please visit: