The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is enforcing landmark national limits on PFAS — widely known as “forever chemicals” — in public drinking water systems, marking one of the most significant drinking water regulations in decades.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals found in everything from nonstick cookware to firefighting foam. They have been detected in the drinking water of communities across all 50 states. According to the Environmental Working Group, more than 9,700 sites in the U.S. have confirmed PFAS contamination, potentially affecting over 176 million Americans.
In 2024, the EPA finalized the first-ever national drinking water standards for six PFAS compounds, including PFOA and PFOS, setting maximum contaminant levels at 4 parts per trillion. Water systems nationwide must begin monitoring for these chemicals in 2026, with full compliance expected by 2029.
The new rules have drawn both praise and pushback. Public health advocates call them a long-overdue step toward protecting communities from chemicals linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and immune system damage. Meanwhile, water utilities face the challenge of installing advanced treatment technologies — such as granular activated carbon and ion exchange systems — to meet the new thresholds.
Federal funding is helping ease the burden. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated $10 billion specifically for PFAS remediation and emerging contaminant treatment, including $4 billion through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
On the technology front, researchers at Rice University recently unveiled a breakthrough method that can capture and destroy PFAS in water hundreds of times faster than existing filtration systems — a development that could dramatically reduce treatment costs for smaller utilities.
For water quality professionals and facility managers, the message is clear: monitoring for PFAS is no longer optional, and investing in the right detection and treatment equipment is essential to staying ahead of compliance deadlines.