EPA’s New Health Advisory Levels for PFAS

On June 15, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued new, lower health advisory levels for PFOA and PFOS, two of a group of man-made chemicals in drinking water called PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).

New York State established maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS at 10 parts per trillion in 2020. We currently meet or exceed that standard for all of the drinking water provided to our customers. The new EPA advisory levels, which serve as interim guidance while the EPA determines new federal regulations, are much lower: .004 parts per trillion for PFOA and .02 parts per trillion for PFOS.  EPA had issued health advisory levels of 70 parts per trillion in 2016.

As the EPA stated in their press release, “The updated advisory levels, which are based on new science and consider lifetime exposure, indicate that some negative health effects may occur with concentrations of PFOA or PFOS in water that are near zero and below EPA’s ability to detect at this time. The lower the level of PFOA and PFOS, the lower the risk to public health. EPA recommends states, Tribes, territories, and drinking water utilities that detect PFOA and PFOS take steps to reduce exposure.” 

We take that “lower the level, lower the risk” guidance to heart in our work to remove and reduce contaminants from our water supply every day.  When there are additional formal public health regulations for PFAS in place, we will meet them as we do now.  When there is final health advisory guidance for PFAS in place, we will learn from and follow it.  And every step of the way, we will work to ensure that those responsible for the contamination we need to treat now and in the future are held accountable for those growing costs.