EPA announces rollback for some Biden-era limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
(UI) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will maintain current nationwide drinking water limits for PFOA and PFOS, two of the most studied “forever chemicals,” while extending compliance deadlines to 2031 to give public water systems more time to meet the standards.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency remains committed to addressing PFAS contamination, particularly in drinking water, while offering regulatory flexibility for small and rural systems.
“The work to protect Americans from PFAS in drinking water started under the first Trump Administration and will continue under my leadership,” Zeldin said. “We are on a path to uphold the agency’s nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water.”
In addition to the two-year extension for compliance, EPA will launch the PFAS OUTreach Initiative (PFAS OUT), which aims to help utilities—especially in underserved communities—access resources and funding to meet regulatory requirements.
The agency also announced plans to withdraw previously proposed limits on three additional PFAS chemicals—PFNA, PFHxS and GenX—and will reconsider the regulatory basis for those substances.
State and industry groups welcomed the delay. Matthew Holmes, CEO of the National Rural Water Association, called the move “commonsense,” adding it will “help water system managers identify affordable treatment technologies.” Alan Roberson of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators said the extension is necessary to allow time for pilot testing and construction planning.
The EPA also reaffirmed its stance on holding polluters accountable, emphasizing that public water systems are not responsible for introducing PFAS into the environment but are often left with the financial burden of removing them.
The agency will propose the rule changes this fall and expects to finalize them by spring 2026.
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