Over 1M New Yorkers Could Lose Protection From Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Tap Water

Eliminating federal limits in drinking water on the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS could end a vital safeguard against continued pollution for 1.3 million New Yorkers.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s landmark standards for six PFAS in tap water, finalized last year, will protect tap water around the U.S. Scrapping the EPA limits could allow PFAS pollution to continue to flow from the taps of nearly 200 water systems across New York and leave the health of residents served by these systems at risk.

The federal standards include first-time limits on the notorious forever chemicals PFOA and PFOS of 4 parts per trillion, or ppt. They also establish limits on another four types of PFAS.

If the federal rule is rolled back or weakened, New York’s 2020 drinking water standards for the two chemicals would still stand. But these limits are set at 10 ppt – higher than the federal limit and so much less protective of human health.