A November 6, 2026, press release from Representative Nancy Mace’s office announces introduction of the Plastics Understanding and Removal through Government Evaluation Act, or PURGE Act. According to the announcement, the legislation would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to study and test strategies addressing microplastics in the environment and water supply.

Congress.gov identifies the bill as H.R. 10957, introduced on November 5, 2026, and referred to the House Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science, Space, and Technology committees. As checked on November 8, its status is Introduced, not enacted. The office’s announcement is dated November 6; that publication date should not be confused with the official introduction date. The release does not establish that the bill has become law, that the proposed pilot has begun, or that any particular treatment product has demonstrated effective removal. Those distinctions matter when reading a water-policy headline.

Two approaches to the problem

The release describes two areas of focus. One is removing microplastics already in the environment through filtration and capture. The other is engineering plastics to break down naturally rather than fragment into persistent microplastic and nanoplastic particles. The proposal therefore addresses both removal and the way plastic materials break down.

These are research directions, not reported findings from completed testing. The announcement does not identify a household filter that meets a particular removal target. It also does not provide performance results for a WaterVO product or any other consumer water-treatment product. Readers should not interpret the legislation’s mention of filtration as a product recommendation.

What EPA would evaluate

Under the proposal as described, EPA would study the effectiveness and cost of anti-microplastic strategies, along with toxic byproducts and impacts on recycling. Section 2 of the introduced bill would require a report to Congress within 180 days after enactment—not 180 days after the press release. Section 3 would require establishment of the pilot within one year after enactment.

The bill would also establish a five-year pilot program in at least three different geographic regions. The settings described include riverine, coastal and municipal wastewater locations, to the extent practicable. This is a proposed program design, rather than a list of selected or operating pilot sites.

Standards before testing

The announcement says EPA would have to establish measurable success standards before testing begins. It also says the proposal prioritizes solutions compatible with existing water-treatment and stormwater infrastructure without substantial new construction. That places both evaluation criteria and practical implementation within the research agenda described by the release.

For biodegradation, the release specifies molecular-level verification. Visual inspection or mass-loss measurements alone would not be sufficient under the proposed requirements. This provision concerns how biodegradation would be verified; it should not be read as a statement that any material has already passed such testing.

Coordination and reporting

The proposal calls for coordination with NOAA, the U.S. Geological Survey and state environmental agencies. It would require a final report to Congress on pilot results within one year after the program concludes. Those reporting provisions are part of the proposed framework, not evidence that results are currently available.

For Hydrology University and WaterVO readers, the useful takeaway is the distinction between an approach worth studying and a result supported by testing. Filtration and capture appear in this announcement as strategies to evaluate. Any claim about a specific system’s ability to remove microplastics would need separate supporting evidence; this release does not supply it.

This summary draws on the November 6 House press release and the introduced bill text and status on Congress.gov, checked November 8, 2026. It does not assess health effects or the performance of treatment technologies. Our coverage is factual water-policy reporting, not an endorsement of an officeholder. The source below lets readers review the announcement directly and distinguish its proposed requirements from completed research.

Source: https://mace.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-nancy-mace-introduces-purge-act-target-microplastics-americas-waters
Bill status: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10957
Bill text: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10957/text

WaterVO: https://watervo.com — Hydrology University: https://hydrologyuniversity.com