The U.S. EPA is moving forward on the required next step in regulating PFAS in drinking water by issuing final regulatory determinations. After receiving more than 10,000 public comments, the EPA made the announcement on January 19, 2021, that they would follow the rulemaking processes required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

EPA is now initiating the process to develop a national primary drinking water regulation for two PFAS compounds, PFOA and PFOS. The process will include further analyses, scientific review, and opportunity for additional public comment. EPA said they intend to fast track evaluation of additional PFAS for future drinking water regulatory determinations as information and data become available. The EPA action is a follow-up to efforts started in February 2020 to begin the process of regulating PFAS chemicals in the nation’s drinking water through the SDWA.

The preliminary determination began in early 2020 to provide state and local communities with key information about PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. As part of the process, the EPA was seeking comment on potential monitoring requirements and regulatory approaches being considered for PFAS chemicals.

The U.S. EPA currently recommends a health advisory level of no more than 70 parts per trillion (ppt) of PFAS in drinking water. Many scientists and health advocates believe this is too high and should be lowered. In the absence of EPA action, a number of states, have passed or are proposing laws requiring lower levels of PFAS for drinking water.

PFAS contamination is being discovered at sites throughout the United States. Polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are fluorinated organic chemicals, which include PFOA and PFOS. PFAS chemicals are persistent and bioaccumulate. Persistent means they do not break down in the environment and bioaccumulate refers to the process of building up over time in the blood and organs.

The U.S. EPA currently recommends a health advisory level of no more than 70 parts per trillion (ppt) of PFAS in drinking water. Many scientists and health advocates believe this is too high and should be lowered. In the absence of EPA action, a number of states, have passed or are proposing laws requiring lower levels of PFAS for drinking water.

Merit Laboratories is a leading national PFAS environmental laboratory, analyzing drinking water, soil, wastewater, groundwater, and other sample matrices, including biosolids and sludge. Analytical methods performed by Merit for PFAS include drinking water by EPA 533, EPA 537.1, and EPA 537 rev. 1.1 and soil, wastewater, groundwater, and surface water by ASTM D7979-19 with Isotopic Dilution and ASTM D7968-17.