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ReviewedLast reviewed: 2026-07-01

US PFAS Drinking-Water Rule

The first legally enforceable US national drinking-water standards for PFAS, finalized by EPA in 2024, set maximum contaminant levels of 4 ng/L for PFOA and PFOS and additional limits for several other compounds.

Provisions

The rule sets enforceable maximum contaminant levels of 4 nanograms per litre for PFOA and PFOS individually, individual limits for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA (GenX), and a hazard-index limit for mixtures of those and PFBS. Public water systems must complete initial monitoring and, where exceedances occur, install treatment within the compliance timetable.

Because it is the first comprehensive national standard of its kind, the rule functions as an international reference point and a demand catalyst for treatment technologies.

References
  1. [1]PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation — Final Rule. US EPA / Federal Register, 2024. ↗