EPA has proposed two rules to weaken PFAS limits in drinking water. The deadline to submit written comments is Monday, July 20.

BACKGROUND: In 2024, EPA finalized drinking water regulations that covered 6 PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO–DA [GenX], and PFBS). Utilities were given a 5-year runway to make appropriate plans to come into compliance with these drinking water limits by 2029 – this is the maximum amount of time permitted for compliance with a Safe Drinking Water Act regulation.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW: EPA has proposed 2 rules that will weaken this landmark PFAS Drinking Water regulation. First, they are moving to rescind limits on 4 of the 6 PFAS compounds, citing administrative problems with how the original rule was created. Second, for the 2 remaining chemicals (PFOA and PFOS), they propose a broad extension for compliance in drinking water to 2031.

EPA is not making any claim that there is a problem with the underlying science that clearly demonstrates the enormous public health risk associated with these compounds (can cause cancer, liver damage, immune suppression, and developmental harm). In both cases, these rules are unnecessary and put public health at risk.

For the rescission rule that will eliminate limits on PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO–DA (GenX), and PFBS, EPA does not have to rescind those limits in order to make administrative fixes to the rule. A procedural problem does not require a substantial regulatory rollback. EPA can and must correct any procedural errors without opening up a gap in drinking water limits.

Related to the time extension for PFOA and PFOS compliance, the Safe Drinking Water Act already contains limited mechanisms for utilities to apply for extensions on a case-by-case basis if they can document funding or engineering barriers. This rule would make this extension more broadly available to drinking water systems across the country that may otherwise be capable of reaching PFAS compliance by the 2029 deadline.

The federal government has been aware of the significant threat these “forever chemicals” pose to drinking water resources since the year 2000. The regulatory response to addressing this threat has been unbearably slow for communities that are dealing with contaminated drinking water, including many communities across Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama. Rather than taking a more direct approach at regulating these compounds as a class, this EPA is trying to weaken the very first enforceable limits for PFAS in drining water.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: If you would like to register your opposition to these proposed rollbacks, you can submit your written comments to EPA by Monday, July 20, 2026 at the links below:

Proposed rescision of drinking water limits for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO–DA (GenX), and PFBS: comment here.

Proposed extension for PFOA and PFOS drinking water compliance deadline: comment here.