The Environmental Protection Agency's recent decision raises concerns over drinking water safety and public health risks associated with PFAS exposure.
Trump Administration Moves to Relax Regulations on PFAS in Drinking Water
Trump Administration Moves to Relax Regulations on PFAS in Drinking Water
The E.P.A. rolls back limits on select PFAS chemicals while maintaining standards for two of the most common variants.
The Trump administration has announced new measures affecting regulations on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water, a group of chemicals commonly referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their long-lasting nature. On May 14, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) confirmed it would maintain drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS, the two most common PFAS substances, yet intends to relax restrictions on four other related chemicals.
While President Biden set ambitious deadlines for water utilities to drastically reduce levels of PFAS chemicals, the Trump administration has pushed back compliance timelines by two years, moving deadlines to 2031. This shift comes despite evidence linking PFAS exposure to several health issues, including cancer, fertility complications, and developmental delays in children.
E.P.A. administrator Lee Zeldin assured that while the agency aims to continue upholding nationwide standards for PFOA and PFOS, the changes offer "common-sense flexibility" for compliance. The decision has sparked debate about environmental safety and public health as critics argue that rolling back limits could risk contaminating drinking water for millions of Americans.
While President Biden set ambitious deadlines for water utilities to drastically reduce levels of PFAS chemicals, the Trump administration has pushed back compliance timelines by two years, moving deadlines to 2031. This shift comes despite evidence linking PFAS exposure to several health issues, including cancer, fertility complications, and developmental delays in children.
E.P.A. administrator Lee Zeldin assured that while the agency aims to continue upholding nationwide standards for PFOA and PFOS, the changes offer "common-sense flexibility" for compliance. The decision has sparked debate about environmental safety and public health as critics argue that rolling back limits could risk contaminating drinking water for millions of Americans.
