Mar 15, 2023

EPA proposes PFAS standards for drinking water

Posted Mar 15, 2023 2:47 PM

The Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday proposed the first-ever national drinking water standard for PFAS chemicals. As part of EPA's PFAS Strategic Roadmap, the agency proposed to establish legally enforceable levels for six PFAS known to occur in drinking water.

The proposal also initiates the distribution of $10 billion in funding to address emerging contaminants under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. EPA Administrator Michael Regan says the proposal "would help provide states with the guidance they need to make decisions that best protect their communities." If finalized, the proposed regulation will require public water systems to monitor for these chemicals.

Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, says, "Many farmers, producers and growers, at no fault of their own, have found alarmingly high levels of PFAS in their food products.” Last month, Manchin encouraged the Biden administration to provide funding to help farmers when they are forced to remove their products from the commercial market.