First-ever federal standards will establish strong limits on six widely detected PFAS in drinking water, protect the health of impacted communities

APRIL 10, 2024

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Members of the Michigan Congressional Delegation, state lawmakers, and the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network (GLPAN) today hailed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) finalization of the first-ever National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWAR) for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The new standards will establish Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for six widely detected PFAS in drinking water and protect the health of impacted communities across the United States.

“This is a monumental victory for the American people and a new beginning for impacted communities across the country,” said Tony Spaniola, co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network. “These PFAS drinking water standards will save the lives of countless Americans for generations to come. Thank you to President Biden for putting public health and science above the demands of powerful special interests, to the EPA for its diligent work, and to our friends and allies in communities across the country for never giving up. Together, we have shown that government can work for all of us.”

“Today’s announcement is a landmark moment in the fight to clean up PFAS. For the first time, the EPA has finalized national, enforceable standards for PFAS contamination, and will require public water systems to take action to meet them. Michigan has been focused on water quality issues in a serious way since the Flint water crisis, and when the EPA was slow to issue PFAS standards, Michigan developed our own in 2020. But this fight has always been at the federal level, and today, I’m thrilled to see a nationwide standard for every state in the union,”’ said Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin.

“More than almost any issue, I have worked on this since my first days in Congress, pushing administrations of both parties for a national drinking water standard on PFAS contamination – through legislation, Pentagon amendments, and direct engagement with the EPA. Many other Michigan legislators, grassroots activists, and concerned citizens have worked it long before me. This is a big deal for our state and for sites of concern in our district, so I’ll be working closely with all impacted communities to ensure these new standards get Michiganders the answers they deserve as soon as possible,” added Congresswoman Slotkin.

“In Michigan we know all too well the urgent, growing public health and environmental threat PFAS poses. This national drinking water standard, which I have long fought for and is a central goal of my PFAS Action Act, takes a long-needed, important step to keep PFAS out of our homes and out of our drinking water,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. “I thank the Biden Administration and EPA Administrator Regan for their continued commitment to ensuring clean and safe drinking water for all Americans and for continuing to tackle the challenge of PFAS. I will continue to work every day in Congress, with the Administration, and with our state and local leaders to implement this rule, and to eliminate PFAS from our products and environment.”

“These national drinking water standards are a testament to the leadership of President Biden in delivering for Michigan communities impacted by toxic PFAS contamination,” said Congressman Dan Kildee. “By addressing PFAS in drinking water, we can better protect communities from the dangers of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ that pose grave threats to our health and kids. As the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force, I will continue to work with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to more urgently clean up PFAS chemicals.”

"For over ten years now, I've proudly represented much of the Grand Rapids area in the state legislature, and during that time, I have witnessed the pain and stress that PFAS exposure has brought to families in my community," said Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, who has been a driving force for water safety improvements in the state. "The EPA's strengthened drinking water standards for PFAS – together with strides we have already made here in Michigan – will transform our ability to protect the health of communities impacted by PFAS, including my own West Michigan community," said Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks.

“We applaud President Biden for his leadership in delivering on a campaign promise and the Environmental Protection Agency for finalizing these critical drinking water standards, which represent the most meaningful federal policy on PFAS to date,” said Sandy Wynn-Stelt, co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network. “By taking action to limit dangerous toxic PFAS in our drinking water, the EPA is following through on its duty to protect our environment, our drinking water, and the health of impacted communities across the United States.”

The final standards establish legally enforceable individual Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion (ppt), MCLs for PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA at 10 ppt, and set a Hazard Index MCL for chemical mixtures containing two or more of either, PFHxS, PFNA, HGPO-DA, or PFBS. The final rule requires public water systems to begin PFAS monitoring and ongoing compliance practices by 2027 and implement solutions to reduce PFAS levels above MCLs by 2029. If a public water system violates one or more MCLs, action to reduce PFAS levels and notify the public will be required. Additionally, the EPA announced $1 billion in new funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to help states with PFAS testing and treatment for public water systems and private wells.