EPA proposes changes to PFAS drinking water limits

The Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to rescind limits on four PFAS substances in drinking water and extend compliance deadlines for two others. Officials described the move as addressing timelines that water systems could not meet. The changes target rules approved in 2024.

Extended exposure to PFAS has been linked to cancers and other health effects. The substances appear in tap water in some congressional districts and in the blood of most Americans.

Proposed regulatory adjustments Restrictions on four PFAS substances would be removed entirely. Water utilities would receive two additional years to meet limits for the remaining two substances. The agency said the prior deadlines risked violations without reducing contamination levels.

Officials pointed to ongoing lawsuits from water utilities and chemical companies. The EPA stopped defending the standards in court after seeking to vacate four restrictions last fall. A 60-day public comment period will precede finalization of the changes.

Funding for detection and removal The administration highlighted $1 billion in grant funding for small and disadvantaged communities to detect and remove PFAS. The funding stems from a congressional appropriation made in 2021. Officials said the grants represent a financial commitment to address the chemicals.

An attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council said the agency appears to have adopted positions from industry challengers. A dean emeritus at New York University School of Law stated that legal challenges are likely because the Safe Drinking Water Act restricts weakening existing standards.