EPA Holds the Line on PFOA and PFOS—but Loosens Grip on Other PFAS

May 15, 2025May 15, 2025

The EPA, under Administrator Lee Zeldin, has announced it will uphold the national drinking water limits for PFOA and PFOS—two of the most studied and dangerous PFAS chemicals—while proposing to rescind and reconsider limits for GenX, PFNA, PFHxS, and the PFAS Hazard Index mixture. The agency will also provide utilities with two additional years—until 2031—for compliance, launch the PFAS OUTreach Initiative to support small and rural systems, and pursue a “polluter pays” approach to reduce contamination at the source.

EPA Reaffirms PFAS Limits for PFOA and PFOS, Signals Shift on Other Compounds

In a significant policy update released yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed it will retain its enforceable limits for two major “forever chemicals” in drinking water: PFOA and PFOS. These chemicals, known for their serious health impacts, remain the focal point of the agency’s regulatory strategy.

However, regulations for four other PFAS compounds—GenX (HFPO-DA), PFNA, PFHxS, and a mixture-based Hazard Index—will be rescinded and reconsidered, pending further review under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

“We are on a path to uphold the agency’s nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water,” stated EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in the EPA News Release.

What’s Changing—and Why

What stays:

Enforceable MCLs for PFOA and PFOS
Legal support for ongoing enforcement against polluters
Continued regulatory progress under the 2024 Final PFAS Rule

What’s under reconsideration:

Maximum contaminant levels for GenX, PFNA, PFHxS, and PFBS
The Hazard Index approach combining lesser-known PFAS
Regulatory determinations for these chemicals will be reassessed to ensure legal durability and scientific rigor

Extended Compliance Timeline

To ease the burden on public water systems, the EPA also announced its intent to extend the compliance deadline from 2029 to 2031. This change will:

Give water systems more time for planning and infrastructure upgrades
Support smaller and rural utilities facing funding and engineering constraints
Encourage state regulators to align timelines while pursuing primacy
This proposed rule will be released in Fall 2025, with finalization expected by Spring 2026.

New Support for Utilities: PFAS OUTreach Initiative

In tandem with the policy shift, the EPA launched PFAS OUT, a national technical assistance program that will:

Contact every utility with known PFOA/PFOS exceedances
Provide support for funding, design, public engagement, and treatment strategies
Deliver free WaterTA (Technical Assistance) services to help with compliance and capital planning

“This commonsense decision provides additional time… and ensures water systems have the resources and support they need,” said Matthew Holmes, CEO, National Rural Water Association.

Holding Polluters Accountable

The EPA emphasized a strong “polluter pays” principle as a core component of this strategy. Since water systems are passive receivers of PFAS—often downstream from industrial dischargers—the agency is:

Advancing wastewater Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELGs) for upstream PFAS contributors
Supporting litigation efforts to hold polluters financially accountable
Pursuing a liability framework to prevent water systems from passing contamination costs to consumers

Looking Ahead: A Balanced Approach

Administrator Zeldin’s announcement seeks to balance environmental protection, legal compliance, and practical timelines for implementation—especially in underserved regions. By anchoring the policy in PFOA and PFOS enforcement while reevaluating lesser-known PFAS compounds, the EPA aims to make durable, defensible progress on a deeply complex issue.

“EPA is following the science, the law, and the reality on the ground for small and rural systems,” said Alan Roberson, Executive Director of the State Drinking Water Administrators.

How We Can Help

What we do not know at this time is how states with varying PFAS regulations, or not-yet-established regulations, will be affected by this reversal. Suburban Testing Labs supports drinking water systems across the Mid-Atlantic in understanding these rapid changes, identifying, quantifying, and navigating PFAS compliance. Our team offers:

PFAS panel testing (including PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and more)
Local expertise on funding and regulatory changes
Fast turnaround times and defensible, NELAP Accredited data.

👉 Need help understanding your PFAS results or preparing for the 2031 deadline? Contact us today to speak with one of our compliance specialists.

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