The EPA has announced new drinking water standards for per- and poly-fluorinated compounds, also called PFAS. These chemicals have unique properties that make them useful for reducing sticking and friction between surfaces. They are used in non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, stain-resistant clothes, household cleaners, paints and finishes, and industrial machinery. Unfortunately, many PFAS have been found to be harmful to people’s health, and are “forever chemicals” that can be found in the environment for many years. People can reduce their exposure to PFAS in consumer produces by using EPA Safer Choice certified products, and EPA is now reducing PFAS in drinking water.
There are hundreds of PFAS, but the EPA is focusing on a handful. The PFAS EPA is focusing on are linked to health effects including several types of cancer and reduced immunity. EPA is setting individual limits for five PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA or GenX chemicals). EPA is also setting a limit on mixtures exceeding a safe level of a group of four PFAS (PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX Chemicals). Drinking water systems will be required to test for these chemicals and treat the water to lower their concentration if they are too high. The new standards will be implemented over the next few years. Drinking water systems must test their water for PFAS and report the results to customers within three years. They must treat water to meet the new standards within five years.