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In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new limits on the quantity of “forever chemicals” that can be present in water provided to communities. The term “forever chemicals” applies to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS. These toxic industrial chemicals have been used for decades to manufacture stain-resistant fabrics, non-stick cookware, fire-fighting foam, electronics and many other products. However, because these new regulations apply only to public water providers, well owners must monitor their own wells for these chemicals.
Why are they called “forever chemicals”? That’s because once they are released into the environment, they may take decades or centuries to fully break down into harmless components. For all that time, they can continue to sicken humans and animals.
As of April 10, 2024, the EPA set new, very low limits for two of the most popular and problematic types of PFAS chemicals: PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanoic acid). This new limit for each chemical was 4 parts per trillion (ppt) in drinking water. While some published limits are recommended, this limit is mandatory which means it can be enforced.
The previous limit published in 2016 was for 70 ppt for PFOS and PFOA combined. The old limit was not mandatory. Also stated by the EPA in 2024, the current goal is for drinking water to contain zero PFOA and PFOS, but this goal is not enforceable.
The EPA has also set limits for other chemicals in this group:
Testing in 2023 of many water systems across America found that some cities were in good condition but others had a startling quantity of these toxins in their local water. For example:
After decades of use in manufacturing, more than 47,000 tons of these toxic chemicals have been released into the environment. Remember, once they are out in the air, soil and water, they don’t degrade for decades or centuries. These chemicals are now found in the blood of humans all over the world.
Exposure to PFAS is associated with the following harms:
Given their dangers, it is appropriate for the EPA to limit the quantity of these hazardous chemicals in public drinking water. The EPA has given public water providers five years to comply with the limits of 4 ppt or 10 ppt for these different PFAS chemicals. Private well owners are on their own, however. If their well contains PFAS chemicals, they will have to discover this on their own and filter their water to remove these toxins.
These are not chemicals that you want in your well water. You definitely don’t want your family consuming PFOA, PFOS or any other chemicals from this group. The only way to find out if your groundwater is contaminated with PFAS chemicals is to get a professional water testing company to do an analysis of your well water.
To get a fast, accurate test of your water to detect these PFAS chemicals, contact ETR Laboratories at (800) 344-9977 today.
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