EPA plans to rescind much of the Biden administration’s first nationwide drinking water standard aimed at protecting people from “forever chemicals” known as PFAS but will maintain current limits on two of these chemicals. PFAS are found in hundreds of consumer and commercial products, including non-stick pans, cosmetics, firefighting foams and stain-resistant clothing.
The rule finalized last year by the Biden administration EPA had set limits for five individual PFAS chemicals: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS and HFPO-DA. It gave all public water systems three years to complete monitoring for these chemicals and required them to inform the public of the level of PFAS measured in their drinking water. In cases where PFAS chemicals are found at levels exceeding the standards, the water systems were required to install systems to reduce PFAS in their drinking water by 2029.
Under the new proposal, EPA would allow drinking water systems more time to develop plans for addressing PFOA and PFOS and extend the compliance date for those two to 2031. It would also rescind the regulations and reconsider the regulatory determinations for the other three PFAS chemicals.
EPA plans to issue a proposed rule this fall and finalize it by spring 2026.
EPA also will launch a campaign called PFAS OUT to connect with every public water utility known to need capital improvements to address PFAS in their system.
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