EPA Announces Plans to Address PFAS in Drinking Water

The Environmental Protection Agency announced plans on May 18 to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or "forever chemicals," in the country's drinking water along with $1 billion in funding. The announcement includes first rolling back some existing regulations.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency is proposing to "rescind and restart" the regulation of certain chemicals, citing alleged procedural errors from the prior administration.

The EPA will allow for a public comment period. "Only after the public has had the opportunity to comment on that proposal, and when the EPA has then finalized the determination to regulate, may the EPA then publish a proposed rule regarding a new regulation of that contaminant," Zeldin said.

Drinking water companies can also request an additional two years to comply with limits, extending the deadline to 2031.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. " The latest announcement comes a month after the EPA and HHS said the Trump administration is cracking down on contaminants in the nation's drinking water, including PFAS, microplastics and pharmaceuticals.