The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a significant rollback of federal limits on several types of “forever chemicals” in drinking water, marking a sharp reversal from the landmark standards set just last year under the Biden administration.

The decision will rescind and reconsider enforceable limits for four out of six regulated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of chemicals linked to cancer and other serious health problems.

PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” are a family of thousands of man-made substances used in products ranging from nonstick cookware to firefighting foams and water-resistant fabrics. They are notable for their persistence in the environment and the human body, accumulating over time and resisting natural breakdown. Research has found PFAS contamination in the blood of nearly every American and in water systems nationwide.

Health studies have linked PFAS exposure to increased risks of cancer, developmental delays in children, reproductive issues, immune system dysfunction, and other ailments.

Under the Biden administration, the EPA finalized the first-ever national drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals in April 2024. These rules set strict limits: 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS (the two most common PFAS), and 10 parts per trillion for four additional chemicals, including GenX, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFBS.

The new rollback will:

• Maintain limits on PFOA and PFOS, but extend the compliance deadline for water utilities from 2029 to 2031.
• Rescind and reconsider limits for GenX, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFBS, effectively removing enforceable standards for these chemicals until a new rulemaking process is completed, expected by spring 2026.
• Delay data reporting requirements for companies, which were set to begin in 2027.

Studies show PFAS are present in nearly half of the nation’s tap water, and the EPA itself has acknowledged that these chemicals can inflict harm at exposure levels “much lower than previously understood”.

The rollback follows lawsuits and pressure from water utilities and industry groups, who argued that the Biden-era standards were too costly and difficult to achieve. The EPA estimates compliance would cost utilities about $1.5 billion annually. Trade associations have questioned the scientific basis and feasibility of the original rules.

The EPA plans to launch a new rulemaking process for the four rescinded chemicals this fall, with updated rules expected next spring.

In the meantime, only two PFAS chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, will remain subject to enforceable federal limits, and utilities will have additional time to comply.