EPA's Landmark PFAS Drinking Water Standards

The final rule on the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) was announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 10, 2024. This Update summarizes the rule and analyzes its implications for regulated entities.

Background

After considering 120,000 comments, EPA issued the first federal standards for PFAS in drinking water. The new rule will be effective 60 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register. In response to concerns over economic feasibility and implementation challenges, EPA extended the compliance deadline from three to five years, while continuing to claim that health risk reductions justify the regulation without needing to factor in all the costs.¹