Pennsylvania Sets New Drinking Water Standards for PFAS
On January 14, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) adopted new drinking water regulations for two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): PFOA and PFOS. The rule is a first-of-its-kind for the Commonwealth and sets Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) at 14 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and 18 ppt for PFOS. The new regulations apply to all 3,117 community, nontransient noncommunity, bottled, vended, retail, and bulk public water systems. According to DEP’s news release, the MCLs “are intended to protect against adverse developmental effects (including neurobehavioral and skeletal effects), and adverse immune system effects (including immune suppression).” The rule also includes requirements to comply with the MCLs, including monitoring and reporting, analytical requirements, and approved treatment technologies.
