On April 10, 2024, US EPA issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard intended to protect communities from exposure to harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals” that are potentially linked to cancer.
EPA estimates that between about 6% and 10% of the 66,000 public drinking water systems subject to this rule may have to take action to reduce PFAS to meet these new standards. All public water systems have three years to complete their initial monitoring for these chemicals and they must inform the public of the level of PFAS measured in their drinking water.
Where PFAS is found at levels that exceed these standards, systems must implement solutions to reduce PFAS in their drinking water within five years. In addition to today’s final rule, EPA announced nearly $1 billion in newly available funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states and territories implement PFAS testing and treatment at public water systems and to help owners of private wells address PFAS contamination.
For more, read the US EPA press release here.