EPA Announces Drinking Water Standards For Six PFAS

On April 10, 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") announced the first enforceable federal drinking water standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act ("SDWA") for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ("PFAS"). PFAS compounds have come to be known as "forever chemicals" because of their ability to indefinitely persist in the environment and toxicity at extremely low levels. The final rule, which will go into effect 60 days after its imminent publication in the Federal Register, will set into motion likely legal challenges and wide-ranging consequences for drinking water providers who will need to comply with the stringent new standards, as well as for companies that may have liability for their cleanup.