Metro Hosts PFAS Discussion with Congressman Gabe Evans

Metro Water Recovery, in partnership with South Adams County Water & Sanitation District and Aurora Water, hosted a panel discussion on June 16, 2026, with Congressman Gabe Evans following his recent co-sponsor of H.R. 1267, the PFAS Liability Protection Act. The PFAS Liability Protection Act is a proposed federal bill designed to protect water and wastewater utilities from being held financially responsible for PFAS contamination that they did not create.

Joining Congressman Evans on the panel were Mickey Conway, Chief Executive Officer of Metro Water Recovery; Abel Moreno, District Manager of South Adams County Water & Sanitation District; and Marshall Brown, General Manager of Aurora Water. Attendees included drinking water providers, Metro board members, wastewater utility leaders, and policymakers from the local, state, and federal levels.

The discussion focused on the challenges utilities face as “passive receivers” of PFAS, which enter water systems through industrial activities and everyday residential use before reaching treatment facilities. Traditional water and wastewater treatment plants were not designed to remove contaminants like PFAS, making treatment difficult and costly.

The panel also discussed strategies to address future PFAS contamination, emphasizing that prevention remains the most effective long-term solution. Keeping PFAS out of the water cycle through source control will require shared responsibility among manufacturers, regulators, water providers, and wastewater utilities.

A panel of 4 meeting at Metro Water Recovery.

The panel of participants included Rep Gabe Evans, Metro CEO Mickey Conway, Aurora Water GM Marshall Brown, South Adams Water District Manager Abel Moreno.

Advancing Support for Water Utilities

Congressman Evans’ support marks an important milestone in ongoing efforts led by Metro’s Governmental Affairs Division. Through countless meetings, tours, and national advocacy with Colorado’s Congressional Delegation, we have worked to elevate service providers’ voice to the national conversation. The co-sponsorship of H.R. 1267 is a key step forward for this work.

H.R. 1267 aims to protect utilities like Metro and other water systems from liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) for PFAS-related cleanup costs, while holding polluters accountable.

While we continue to advocate for proactive legislation to support our long-term goals, Metro will continue to proactively monitor PFAS, communicate data, invest in research, and work with regulators and partners to identify practical solutions. We thank Congressman Gabe Evans for his support on H.R. 1267 and will encourage the rest of our delegation to support this important piece of legislation.