EPA's New PFAS Drinking Water Standards: Your Complete Guide to Compliance and Protection
The EPA’s first-ever enforceable PFAS drinking water standards are here. Learn what water utilities, industry professionals, and consumers need to know about forever chemicals compliance, testing, treatment technologies, and the $21 billion in available funding.
If you are in the water industry, you likely saw the news. The EPA is cracking down on forever chemicals, and its impacts are still being sorted out. These forever chemicals come from so many different sources but include the coatings on non-stick pans, rain jackets, and fire-fighting foam.
Understanding the New PFAS Standards
Per the Biden-Harris Administration “…the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ Exposure to PFAS has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children.”
The EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) establish strict limits for six PFAS compounds:
- PFOA and PFOS:0 parts per trillion (ppt)
- PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA (GenX Chemicals): 10 ppt
- Mixtures: Hazard Index of 1 (unitless) for combinations of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS
These “forever chemicals” persist in the environment and human body for decades. Exposure has been linked to cancer, liver and heart damage, and developmental issues in children. Sources include non-stick cookware coatings, water-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam, and industrial processes.
What This Means for Regular Water Users
Then you should check your local water utility on this list and see what your risk is. I live in Houston Texas in the Kingwood Water System. Great news for me! Nothing detected!
However, I have some family in Dallas, so I checked their levels. Dallas Water Utility has a few detections to be aware of. If you check the details the concentrations are very low and near the limits so nothing to be alarmed about and you can keep using your water.
For Water Industry Professionals
Check how your company is either directly or indirectly involved in the removals of these chemicals. We need sensors to detect them, filtering technology to concentrate them, and advanced treatment technology to remove them.
The current proven technologies are granular activated carbon, ion exchange resins, and high-pressure membrane systems. There are also several startups such as Enspired Solutions that have more cost effective but newer technology.
For Water Utility Operators: Your 5-Year Compliance Roadmap
Test your existing water and wastewater plants to determine what concentrations you have. Most utilities at risk have already completed this step. You have 5 years to design, procure, and startup your new treatment process to remove the contaminants from your systems.
This is a big challenge for many utilities, mostly those in the northeast or in heavy manufacturing areas. If you haven’t found the funding yet, there are options in progress. “Compliance with this rule is estimated to cost approximately $1.5 billion annually. The Biden-Harris Administration has dedicated $9 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help communities impacted by PFAS pollution in drinking water. In addition, another $12 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is available to communities to make general drinking water improvements, including addressing PFAS chemicals. Estimated costs include water system monitoring, communicating with customers, and – if necessary – installing treatment technologies.”
Finding the Source: Prevention Saves Money
One last thing, remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
That applies here as well. If you have positive samples at the treatment plant, then maybe you can find the point source. Each utility affected should be deploying sensors or taking samples across their sewer sheds to identify who is really putting these contaminants into the water.
Common sources include:
- Military facilities
- Industrial areas
- Railyards
- Gas stations
Thankfully, there is a strong community of smart sewer utilities that already have best practices for deploying sensors and testing to find point pollution and track flows and contaminants over time. Most of this work has been done to reduce flows, but the same process works for contaminants as well.
Check out EPA Smart Sewer Systems or let me know and I’ll get you in touch with some utilities who already have this in progress.
How Infrasync Can Help
Infrasync connects water infrastructure professionals with the technologies, vendors, and expertise needed to tackle PFAS compliance. Whether you’re a utility seeking treatment solutions, a technology provider entering the PFAS market, or an engineering firm supporting compliance projects, our platform streamlines the connection between challenge and solution.
The water industry is facing its biggest regulatory challenge in decades—but with the right tools, partnerships, and planning, compliance is achievable. The five-year clock is ticking, and utilities that act now will be best positioned for success.
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