Insights
US EPA Proposes National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for PFAS
At a Glance
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) to establish legally enforceable levels (Maximum Contaminant Levels or MCLs) for six PFAS compounds in drinking water.
The proposed rule would require public water systems to:
- Monitor for PFAS
- Notify the public of PFAS levels
- Reduce levels in drinking water if they exceed the proposed standards
PFOA and PFOS are viewed as individual contaminants under the proposal, while PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS, and HFPO-DA (GenX) are viewed as a PFAS mixture based upon a Hazard Index. The EPA is also proposing health-based, non-enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for these six PFAS. The proposed concentrations are approaching the current analytical detection limits achievable by laboratories.
You can access the link to the EPA March 14, 2023, announcement, along with instructions on how to register for EPA’s informational Webinars on March 16 using the following link: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) | US EPA. There will be a public hearing on May 4, 2023 and EPA will accepting public comments for 60-days once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register.
