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Regulating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water

Pouring a glass of water

 

What are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been widely used in industry and consumer products. PFAS have the ability to resist heat, water, and oil. They are found in food packaging, nonstick cookware, firefighting foam, and some personal care products. Creating and using these products can allow PFAS to enter our environment. When people are exposed to these chemicals for a long time, they may be at higher risk for certain health effects. For more information on PFAS, please visit our PFAS website.

On April 10, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation to reduce PFAS exposure in drinking water. The rule sets levels for six (6) PFAS chemicals in drinking water to protect people's health. The rule applies to community and non-transient, non-community water systems.

The Water Quality Control Division will host virtual meetings to discuss the adoption of EPA’s PFAS Rule under the Water Quality Control Commission’s Regulation No. 11. The division will share our proposal and request feedback on what areas of the rule need more guidance or compliance tools. At this time, the division is not seeking feedback on changes to the federal regulatory requirements. This includes the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), monitoring frequency, or the six (6) PFAS currently under regulation.

The PFAS rule requires public water systems to conduct initial PFAS monitoring by April 26, 2027. The results from initial monitoring will:

  • Establish baseline levels for the PFAS under regulation.
  • Determine the frequency of ongoing compliance monitoring for the PFAS under regulation.

Public water systems should address the initial monitoring requirements as soon as possible. The division encourages systems to begin initial monitoring early to ensure that the requirements are met on time. Please note that public water systems may be able to use the results of recently acquired PFAS sampling (collected after Jan. 1, 2019) to fulfill the initial monitoring requirements.

How to get involved

 

Beginning in Aug. 2024, the division will meet with participants through virtual meetings. We are offering two meeting types:

  • Stakeholder meetings. These meetings will focus on informing participants and gathering feedback about the draft regulation.
  • Workgroup meetings. These meetings will concentrate on specific topics within the draft regulation. We will address questions and concerns through smaller group discussions.

At the end of these meetings, the Water Quality Control Commission will consider the division’s proposal for Regulation No. 11 through a rulemaking hearing scheduled for Aug. 2025.

Sign up to receive notifications about this effort.

 

After the meetings conclude, a copy of the meeting recording, presentation, and other meeting materials will be stored in this public folder.

Stakeholder meeting schedule

Workgroup meeting schedule

 

For questions or comments related to the PFAS rule, please contact:

For questions or comments related to the engagement process or this webpage, please contact: