EPA Extends PFAS Rule Deadline, Keeps Current Water Standards in Place

Current PFAS water limits remain in effect as the compliance deadline shifts to 2031 to support utilities with implementation.

• By Stasia DeMarco
• May 15, 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will retain current drinking water limits for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), two prominent PFAS "forever chemicals," while also providing regulatory flexibility to assist compliance among water systems. The decision, outlined by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, comes as part of a broader initiative to balance public health protections with practical implementation timelines.

Administrator Zeldin emphasized that the agency will uphold enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) set under the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) but will also propose extending the compliance deadline to 2031. "We are working to ensure Americans are protected from PFAS while supporting water systems, especially in small and rural communities, as they develop affordable treatment solutions," Zeldin said.

The EPA will launch a new initiative, PFAS OUT (Outreach Utility Team), to enhance outreach and technical assistance to utilities, focusing on those with PFOA and PFOS concentrations exceeding the MCLs. The initiative will offer support, including water quality testing, public engagement strategies, and access to federal funding.

In tandem, the agency intends to rescind and reconsider regulatory determinations for PFHxS, PFNA, GenX (HFPO-DA), and a PFAS Hazard Index mixture to ensure all future regulations align with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Industry groups have welcomed the delay. Matthew Holmes, CEO of the National Rural Water Association, called the move "commonsense" and praised the extra time given to system managers. Alan Roberson, Executive Director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, said the extension will help address challenges in testing, planning, and infrastructure upgrades.

The EPA's broader strategy includes effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs), liability frameworks for polluters, and funding through programs like the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA).

Zeldin’s leadership on PFAS began in Congress as a founding member of the PFAS Task Force. His continued advocacy for a "polluter pays" model underpins the agency’s ongoing commitment to supporting communities and holding contaminators accountable.

For more information, visit the EPA PFAS Regulation and WaterTA pages.