EPA PFAS Regulation: Complete Timeline and What's Next

2024 rule, 2031 deadline, and what it means for your water bill.

The Rule

In April 2024, the EPA finalized the first-ever national drinking water standard for PFAS. The rule sets Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS individually -- the two most studied and widespread PFAS compounds. For three additional PFAS (PFHxS, PFNA, and GenX/HFPO-DA), the limits are 10 ppt each.

The rule also introduces a hazard index approach for mixtures of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS. If a water system detects multiple PFAS compounds, the combined risk must stay below a hazard index of 1.0, even if each individual compound is below its own limit. This acknowledges that PFAS exposure is rarely from a single compound.

This rule applies only to public water systems serving 25+ people or 15+ connections. Roughly 66,000 public water systems across the US fall under this regulation. Private wells, which serve approximately 43 million Americans, are completely excluded. If you are on well water, read our well water PFAS guide for testing options.

Timeline

The regulatory timeline for PFAS in drinking water has been decades in the making. Here are the key dates that matter:

• 2001-2002: EPA issues voluntary phase-out agreements with 3M and DuPont for PFOS and PFOA production
• 2016: EPA sets a non-enforceable health advisory of 70 ppt for PFOA and PFOS combined
• 2022: EPA dramatically lowers health advisories to 0.004 ppt for PFOA and 0.02 ppt for PFOS -- levels essentially undetectable with current technology
• April 2024: EPA finalizes enforceable MCLs of 4 ppt PFOA, 4 ppt PFOS, and 10 ppt for three other PFAS
• By 2027: All regulated public water systems must complete initial PFAS monitoring
• By 2029 (originally) / 2031 (extended): Water systems must achieve compliance with the new limits

The EPA has signaled it will extend the compliance deadline from 2029 to 2031, giving utilities additional time to install treatment infrastructure. This means some communities may continue receiving water with PFAS above the legal limit for another five years. If your city's data shows elevated PFAS, a home filter provides immediate protection while you wait for your utility to comply.

Cost Impact

Compliance with the new PFAS rule will cost the US water industry an estimated $1.5 billion per year, according to EPA projections. The American Water Works Association puts the figure closer to $3.8 billion annually. Either way, the cost will be passed to ratepayers.

For the average household, water bill increases are projected at $4-12 per month depending on the level of contamination at their utility and the treatment technology required. Utilities with low PFAS levels may only need enhanced monitoring. Those with elevated levels will need to install granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment systems, ion exchange resins, or high-pressure membrane filtration -- capital investments that can run $5-50 million per treatment plant.

Small water systems serving fewer than 10,000 people face the steepest per-household costs because they lack the economies of scale that large utilities enjoy. The EPA has allocated approximately $9 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for PFAS treatment, but this covers only a fraction of the estimated need. Some utilities have pursued legal action against PFAS manufacturers like 3M and DuPont to recoup treatment costs, with 3M settling for $10.3 billion in 2023.

What to Do

Do not wait until 2031 for your utility to comply. The regulation timeline means years of potential exposure before treatment is installed. Here is how to protect yourself now:

1. Check your city's PFAS data on CheckMyTap. We pull UCMR5 monitoring results for 1,000 cities so you can see exactly what has been detected.
2. Request your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which should include PFAS monitoring results if testing has been completed. Under the new rule, all utilities must finish initial testing by 2027.
3. If PFAS is detected above 4 ppt, install an NSF P473-certified filter or a reverse osmosis system for your drinking and cooking water. This provides immediate protection for $90-400.
4. If you are on a private well, you are entirely outside the regulatory framework. Get a certified lab test for PFAS and take action based on results.

The EPA rule is a major step forward, but enforcement takes time. A home filter is the bridge between regulation and actual clean water at your tap. See our PFAS filter buying guide for specific product recommendations.