In addition, drinking water systems will now have until 2031 to comply with the standards established for PFOA and PFOS, giving them two more years than originally planned. According to the EPA, this extension will allow public and private companies more time to adapt their treatment infrastructure.

Mixed Reactions

While environmental organizations and public health advocates have welcomed the strict regulations, utility companies have raised concerns about the costs. Installing treatment systems capable of meeting the established limits requires multimillion-dollar investments, which could translate into higher rates for users.

The industry has filed legal challenges, arguing that the EPA did not adequately justify some of the restrictions and that it lacks the authority to impose certain limits. They had also requested the additional time, which has now been granted.

Experts like Erik Olson from the Natural Resources Defense Council warn that weakening these standards could contradict the Safe Drinking Water Act, which prohibits new regulations from being less strict than previous ones.

Impact and Funding

Although the proposed changes will not affect most water systems in the country, it is estimated that nearly 12% exceed the permitted levels — particularly for PFOA and PFOS. Implementing this regulation would cost about $1.5 billion annually, according to the EPA.

To ease this financial burden, the federal government has allocated $9 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and several water companies have also obtained settlements from PFAS manufacturers such as Chemours and 3M.

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