Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

On March 14, 2023, EPA announced the proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX Chemicals), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). The proposed PFAS NPDWR does not require any actions until it is finalized. EPA anticipates finalizing the regulation by the end of 2023. EPA expects that if fully implemented, the rule will prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses.

EPA requested public comment on the proposed regulation. The public comment period ended on May 30, 2023. The public docket can be accessed at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0114. 

EPA held an informational general overview webinar of the proposed PFAS NPDWR on March 16, 2023, and another informational webinar about the proposed PFAS NPDWR specifically for water utilities and the drinking water professional community on March 29, 2023. On May 4, 2023, EPA held a public hearing on the proposed PFAS NPDWR.

March 29, 2023 Technical Overview of the Proposed PFAS NPDWR

• Technical Overview Webinar Presentation: Proposed PFAS NPDWR (pdf) (1.62 MB)

• Descripción Técnica Presentación del Seminario Virtual: Propuesta de Regulación Primaria Nacional de PFAS para Agua Potable (pdf) (1.17 MB, March 2023)

• Webinar Recording: Technical Overview of Proposed PFAS NPDWR

• Grabación del Seminario Web: Descripción Técnica de la Propuesta de Regulación Primaria Nacional de PFAS para Agua Potable (subtítulos en Español)

• March 16, 2023 General Overview Webinar on the Proposed PFAS NPDWR

  • General Overview Webinar Presentation: Proposed PFAS NPDWR (pdf) (861.12 KB, March 2023)

  • Descripción General Presentación del Seminario Virtual: Propuesta de Regulación Primaria Nacional de PFAS para Agua Potable  (pdf) (861.16 KB, March 2023)

  • Webinar Recording: General Overview of Proposed PFAS NPDWR

  • Grabación del Seminario Web: Descripción General de la Propuesta de Regulación Primaria Nacional de PFAS para Agua Potable (subtítulos en Español)

• May 4, 2023 Public Hearing on the Proposed PFAS NPDWR

  • EPA Public Hearing Recording on Proposed PFAS NPDWR

  • EPA Public Hearing Presentation on Proposed PFAS NPDWR (pdf) (841.24 KB)

  • EPA Audiencia Pública Presentación de Propuesta de Regulatión Primaria Nacional de PFAS para Agua Potable (pdf) (850.44 KB)

  • Public Hearing Agenda and Pre-Registered Speaker List (pdf) (130.67 KB)

Summary

EPA is proposing a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) to establish legally enforceable levels, called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), for six PFAS in drinking water. PFOA and PFOS as individual contaminants, and PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS, and HFPO-DA (commonly referred to as GenX Chemicals) as a PFAS mixture. EPA is also proposing health-based, non-enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for these six PFAS. 

The proposed rule would also require public water systems to:

• Monitor for these PFAS

• Notify the public of the levels of these PFAS

• Reduce the levels of these PFAS in drinking water if they exceed the proposed standards.

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