First National PFAS Drinking Water Standards Finalized

Update 4/26/24

On Friday, April 26, US EPA published the Final Rule to the Federal Register. The rule will take effect on June 25, 2024.

See the Final Rule.

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EPA recently finalized the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The rule sets limits for five PFAS:

• PFOA
• PFOS 
• PFNA 
• PFHxS
• HFPO-DA (also known as “GenX”)

The Final Rule has not yet been published to the Federal Register. Lion staff will update this post when an effective date for the rule is announced. 

Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFAS

For PFOA and PFOS, EPA is setting a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG), a non-enforceable health-based goal, at zero. EPA is setting enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) at 4.0 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, individually.

For PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX, EPA is setting the MCLGs and MCLs at 10 parts per trillion.

EPA is also setting a limit for any mixture of two or more of the following PFAS: PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX.

More On This Action

EPA says this final rule will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses.

The Agency also estimates that 6–10% of the 66,000 public drinking water systems subject to this rule may have to take action to reduce PFAS to meet new standards.

All public water systems:

• Have three years to complete their initial monitoring for these chemicals.
• Must inform the public of the level of PFAS measured in their drinking water.
• Must implement solutions to reduce PFAS in their drinking water within five years if PFAS is found at levels that exceed these standards.

EPA will host a series of webinars to provide information to the public, communities, and water utilities about the final PFAS drinking water regulation.

EH&S professionals who finish the Complete Environmental Regulations Online Course can identify the regulations that apply to their facility and locate key requirements to achieve compliance with the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to EPCRA, TSCA, Superfund, and more.