Georgia's Environmental Protection Division has proposed updates to its drinking water regulations to include two types of PFAS -- PFOA and PFOS -- mirroring recent federal guidance. The new rules will require public water systems to monitor these chemicals, with strict limits set at 4 parts per trillion. One-year initial monitoring should be completed by April 2027, and systems may not waive PFOA and PFOS monitoring.

Hundreds of Iowa-based companies, including food processing and agricultural entities, have been cited for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System violations this year, yet state regulators have imposed penalties in only one instance. Violations often occur over multiple years, with Green Plains Renewable Energy violating its permit every year since 2021. Many of the industry's infractions involve releasing excessive nitrogen and ammonia into public water systems.

Norfolk Southern has embraced a "safety transformation" in the two-and-a-half years since it experienced a major derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. It has invested in digital train inspection technology and adjusted training, resulting in an 8% reduction in personal injuries and a 28% decrease in derailments year to date. However, a potential merger with Union Pacific has raised concerns about future safety.

Santa Monica, Calif., has achieved 85% water self-sufficiency with the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project, a state-of-the-art recycling system. The project, located beneath a parking lot, treats stormwater, urban runoff and wastewater to drinking water standards, replenishing local groundwater. Funded by a mix of city, state and county sources, the project has earned national recognition for its innovative approach.

The He'eia Fishpond on Oahu, Hawaii, is nearing completion after 25 years of restoration, but a lack of fresh water from He'eia Stream threatens its full revival. The stream was diverted in 1940, reducing the flow needed to create the brackish water essential for fish farming. Native Hawaiian groups and scientists are urging the state and Honolulu to restore the stream's flow to support the ecosystem and community food production.