At the federal level, PFAS regulation has evolved rapidly as scientific understanding deepens and public concern grows. For decades, PFAS were unregulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), leaving states to set their own limits. That began to change when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified PFAS as an emerging contaminant of national concern.
In 2023, the EPA proposed the first-ever enforceable drinking water standards for six PFAS compounds: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX. The proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS are set at 4 parts per trillion (ppt), the lowest detectable concentrations achievable through current technology. For the other four PFAS, the EPA established hazard index calculations to regulate mixtures collectively.
The agency’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap (2021–2030) outlines a comprehensive plan to:
Expand testing and monitoring under UCMR 5
Strengthen enforcement under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
Designate certain PFAS as hazardous substances under CERCLA (Superfund)
Advance research into PFAS destruction technologies
These guidelines represent a significant shift from voluntary advisories to mandatory national standards. As the EPA finalizes these rules, utilities across the U.S. are preparing to implement treatment systems and monitor compliance closely.
While federal rules are taking shape, state governments have led the way in regulating PFAS contamination. Several states acted years before national standards existed, setting their own limits and enforcement programs.
New Jersey was the first state to adopt enforceable PFAS drinking water standards, setting MCLs of 14 ppt for PFOA and 13 ppt for PFOS. The state also added these chemicals to its list of hazardous substances, allowing contaminated sites to be remediated under existing cleanup laws.
New York followed with limits of 10 ppt for both PFOA and PFOS and continues to expand testing through its statewide monitoring initiative.
Michigan created the MPART (Michigan PFAS Action Response Team), which coordinates testing, cleanup, and public communication across agencies.
California requires utilities to report detections above notification levels and is moving toward enforceable standards while restricting PFAS in consumer products.
Massachusetts set combined limits for six PFAS compounds at 20 ppt total, one of the strictest thresholds in the country.
Across all regions, PFAS levels vary widely, from nondetectable in remote wells to over 1,000 ppt in industrial zones. These results highlight the importance of continuous testing and public transparency to inform both policy and cleanup efforts.
By 2026, the regulatory landscape for PFAS in the United States will likely enter a new phase, one defined by implementation, enforcement, and expansion.
Once the EPA finalizes its MCLs for PFOA and PFOS, water utilities will begin mandatory compliance testing. Systems exceeding the limits will be required to install treatment technologies or secure alternative water sources. Federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will help offset the costs of testing and remediation, particularly for smaller communities.
Beyond drinking water, the EPA is expected to classify PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA, making polluters legally responsible for cleanup costs. This designation will trigger a wave of site investigations and remediation projects at contaminated military bases, airports, and industrial facilities.
Regulators also plan to expand oversight under the Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), ensuring PFAS are monitored in wastewater discharges, biosolids, and hazardous waste streams.
States are likely to tighten their own limits even further and add product bans, such as restrictions on PFAS in textiles, food packaging, and firefighting foams. By 2026, PFAS regulation will move from a patchwork of state actions to a coordinated national framework, reshaping how industries, utilities, and consumers manage chemical safety.
