EPA to Limit Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water

In 2016, the EPA set nonbinding limits on PFOA and PFOS—also known collectively as PFAS and "forever chemicals"—in drinking water at 70 parts per trillion. Despite this proclamation, there was no established method to enforce these limits. Fast forward to April 2024 and for the first time the agency has set enforceable limits on PFAS in drinking water.

Let's dive into what this means for you, and what additional steps you can take to protect yourself from these harmful contaminants.

What Are PFAS?

PFAS stands for perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. It's a large group of man-made chemicals common in manufacturing that have been used consistently since the 1940s. PFAS have strong molecular bonds that never break down in the environment, which is why they're known as "forever chemicals."

PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid and C8, is used to make products that resist water, oil, stains, heat, and grease, making it a popular choice for use in products like firefighting foam, Gore-Tex clothing, and non-stick cookware. PFOS, or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, is a stain-repellent used in products like Scotchgard. Both PFOA and PFOS have been linked to health risks including:

• Cancer
• Liver damage
• Weakened immunity in children
• Low birth weight
• Reproductive issues
• Increased cholesterol levels
• Weight gain

EPA administrator Michael Regan said, "There's no doubt that these chemicals have been important for certain industries and consumer uses, but there's also no doubt that many of these chemicals can be harmful to our health and our environment."

Of the more than 12,000 known PFAS, the EPA is restricting six of them including PFOA and PFOS.

What Is the New Limit on PFAS?

With this new regulation, the EPA is requiring all public water systems to reduce PFOA and PFOS to no more than four parts per trillion, a tremendous reduction from the aforementioned 2016 recommended limits of 70 parts per trillion.

Public water systems will have five years to address PFAS levels. This includes three years to sample the water in their systems to establish the existing levels of PFAS, and an additional two years to address levels that surpass the new limit by installing water treatment technologies.

The EPA expects that excess PFAS levels will be found in 6-10% of water systems, affecting approximately 100 million people in the U.S. 

It's important to remember that PFAS cannot be completely removed from drinking water. They can only be reduced. While public water systems will be taking steps to ensure that reduction, you can do more to protect yourself and your family.

How to Check Your Water for PFAS

Standard water testing kits are not able to detect PFAS and only test for things like chlorine, iron, and calcium. The only way to determine the presence of PFAS in your drinking water is with a laboratory test kit. You can purchase such kits from suppliers, but you must ensure the lab is accredited to test for PFAS.
You can also sometimes acquire testing kits from your local water utility or you can ask your utility what the current levels of PFAS are in the drinking water they supply. Some states have worse tap water than others, so it's important to find out for sure what's in the water specific to the state which in you and your family reside.