U.S. Limits ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water for First Time

The first national standard limit on "forever chemicals," known as PFAS in drinking water, has been set to help prevent health risks in the U.S.

A limitation on the harmful chemicals found in drinking water has been set by the Biden-Harris administration in a groundbreaking new development.

On April 10, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a strict limit on "forever chemicals" known as PFAS found in drinking water in the country in the hope of the prevention and spread of illnesses, such as cancer, among U.S. citizens and environmental damage.

This is the first national legally enforced standard set for drinking water in the country to reduce PFAS exposure.

The limitation comes after a push from the Biden administration to finalize drinking water standards after EPA revealed in a test report last August that PFAS were found in 45% of tap water in the U.S., with the expectation of levels to rise exponentially in three years, causing serious health risks among the population.

Related: Can Drinking Too Much Water Be Fatal? A Doctor Explains the 'Real Damage' of Water Toxicity

“Today’s announcements advance President Biden’s broader commitment to deliver clean water for every American,” the White House said in a press release following the announcement. “The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests over $50 billion to upgrade water infrastructure – the largest investment in clean water in American history.”

“This includes a historic $15 billion to replace toxic lead pipes and protect children from brain damage," the press release continued, specifying that it is "part of President Biden’s goal of replacing every lead pipe in the country within a decade.”

Water utilities must now extract five individual PFAS, also known as GenX chemicals, from water being distributed for drinking purposes — they are PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS and HFPO-DA. The EPA is also restricting any combination of four PFAS to reduce PFAS to the lowest levels possible.

Related: 26 Million People Across the U.S. Have Harmful 'Forever Chemicals' in Their Drinking Water

EPA officials say water providers will be required to carry out testing for chemicals in drinking water for three years before the water can be sold. Public water systems must inform people about the level of PFAS in the drinking water.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences concluded from tests carried out last year that PFAS can cause altered metabolism, liver damage, a weak immune system and an increased risk of some cancers.

Between 2016 and 2021, scientists tested 716 locations in the U.S. in rural and urban areas. They estimated that there is around a 75% chance of PFAS being found in rural areas, and a 25% chance in urban locations.

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“This is the first time since the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments were passed in 1996 that a drinking water contaminant made it through the regulatory process to the finish line,” Dr. David Andrews, a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group, said of the new PFAS limit, per CNN.

Dr. Anna Reade, director of PFAS advocacy, and environmental health at the environmental group NRDC, added, per the outlet, “I think it’s a huge breakthrough in terms of action on PFAS.”

“...This problem is so large. Again, we shouldn’t take away from the fact that this is just a really monumental step forward.”

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