Will Your Drinking Water Get Less Protection From PFAS in 2025?

What's happening with EPA's PFAS drinking water standards?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed new federal drinking water limits for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in 2023, which were set to take effect in 2024. These are the first-ever enforceable federal limits for these "forever chemicals," which don't break down in the environment or in your body.

Now, the EPA is reportedly considering rolling back or delaying those standards. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) in North Carolina recently issued a formal opposition to this potential rollback, calling on the EPA to maintain the stricter limits it originally proposed.

Who is affected by these drinking water standards?

Anyone who drinks tap water from a public water system could be affected. PFAS contamination has been found in drinking water supplies across the United States. According to the EPA, PFAS chemicals have been detected in the blood of most Americans, often from contaminated drinking water.

Communities near military bases, airports, firefighting training sites, and industrial facilities manufacturing or using PFAS face higher contamination risk. However, PFAS is widespread enough that utilities in both rural and urban areas have detected it.

The CFPUA specifically serves about 335,000 people in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina, an area with known PFAS contamination in groundwater.

Why is CFPUA opposing the rollback?

Water utilities like CFPUA have already invested millions of dollars in equipment and systems to meet the EPA's proposed PFAS limits. A rollback would undermine those investments and leave consumers with less protection.

"Weakening these standards would be a step backward for public health," the utility's position essentially argues. Once standards are weakened, utilities have less legal obligation to remove PFAS from drinking water, even if they have the technology to do so.

Utilities also face a practical problem: if federal standards change frequently or become less stringent, they can't reliably plan infrastructure spending. They need consistent, science-based rules.

What health concerns are associated with PFAS?

PFAS chemicals accumulate in your blood and organs over time. Research has identified associations between PFAS exposure and several health conditions, according to the EPA and peer-reviewed studies:

• Increased cholesterol levels
• Liver damage
• Thyroid disease
• Kidney and testicular cancer (in animal and some human studies)
• Reduced vaccine response in children
• Pregnancy complications

The EPA emphasizes that these are associations observed in research; they don't mean everyone exposed to PFAS will develop these conditions. However, because PFAS accumulates in your body and doesn't break down, lower exposure over time is generally considered preferable to higher exposure.

What do the proposed EPA standards actually say?

The EPA originally proposed limits for six PFAS chemicals:

• PFOA and PFOS (the most studied): proposed limits of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) each
• PFHxS, PFNA, PFDcA, and PFBS: limits ranging from 10 ppt down to single digits

These limits are stricter than previous guidance, reflecting newer science about PFAS health risks. If rolled back, limits might become less strict or apply to fewer chemicals, allowing more PFAS in your drinking water legally.

Why would the EPA consider rolling back these standards?

The stated reason is often cost-benefit analysis. Water utilities argue that achieving very low PFAS limits is expensive—requiring new treatment technology, monitoring, and infrastructure upgrades. Some industry groups claim the costs outweigh benefits.

However, public health advocates counter that the cost of treating contaminated drinking water is far less than the cost of healthcare for PFAS-related illnesses, and that industry should bear cleanup costs, not taxpayers.

What can you do?

Contact your representatives. Call or email your U.S. senators and congressional representative urging them to support strong EPA PFAS drinking water standards. The comment period on EPA proposals may still be open; check the EPA website for deadlines.

Learn your water quality. Contact your local water utility and ask for their latest water quality report (called a Consumer Confidence Report). Ask specifically about PFAS testing and results. You can also search the PFAS Database Finder to see if your area has detected PFAS.

Consider a filter if concerned. If your water test shows PFAS or you want additional protection, certain water filters (granular activated carbon or reverse osmosis) can remove some PFAS. Pitcher filters generally don't remove PFAS effectively. Check product specifications.

Stay informed. Monitor news from your local water utility. If PFAS standards change, utilities will be required to notify customers about any health advisories.

Bottom Line

The EPA's proposed PFAS drinking water standards represent the first federal requirement to remove these persistent chemicals from tap water. A rollback would weaken that protection. Water utilities are pushing back against rollback, but the outcome remains uncertain. You have time to make your voice heard—contact elected officials and stay informed about your local water quality.

FAQ

Should I stop drinking tap water because of PFAS?

Not necessarily. While PFAS is widespread, not all water contains it, and levels vary significantly. Check your water quality report and test results. If your water shows PFAS levels above EPA guidance, consider a filter or bottled water for drinking and cooking. The health risk from not drinking enough water may outweigh PFAS concerns for most people, but discuss individual risk with your doctor if you're pregnant, have young children, or have specific health conditions.

Is bottled water safer from PFAS?

Some bottled water contains PFAS; some doesn't. Bottled water is less regulated than tap water for PFAS. If you use bottled water, choose brands that test for PFAS and publish results. This isn't a complete solution, since bottled water also uses tap water or groundwater sources in many cases.

Can I remove PFAS from my drinking water at home?

Some filters can reduce PFAS, but effectiveness varies by filter type and PFAS chemical. Granular activated carbon (GAC) and reverse osmosis systems generally perform better than pitcher or faucet-mount filters. Check product certifications and ask manufacturers about specific PFAS removal claims. Point-of-use filters are not a substitute for treating water at the utility level, where contamination should be prevented for everyone.