The Trump administration announced on May 14 it will keep the first-ever regulations on two of the most widely-known “forever chemicals” found in public water systems, including here in Indianapolis.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it would keep the Biden administration’s 2024 regulations for PFOA and PFOS, but would extend the period for public water systems to come into compliance to 2031, two years later than originally planned.
The administration also will rescind planned regulations for other PFAS chemicals found in water systems.
Here’s what you need to know.
What are PFAS chemicals?
PFAS are a group of thousands of chemicals, such as PFOA and PFOS, that were made to manufacture products that are resistant to heat, water, grease and stains. Products include Teflon nonstick pans, clothing and other products sold and manufactured in the state.
They are also used to produce items like microchips and medical devices.
PFAS chemicals are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down naturally in the environment or in the human body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost everyone in the U.S. has at least some PFAS chemicals in their blood. Some PFAS chemicals can stay in the human body for years.
Until 2024, there were no enforceable limits on how much of any PFAS chemical was allowed in drinking water.
Which PFAS are now regulated?
The EPA will keep a 4 nanograms per liter limit on PFOA and PFOS, some of the oldest and most studied PFAS chemicals.
They were created in the late 1940s by Minnesota-based manufacturing company 3M and have been linked to kidney and testicular cancer, liver damage, lower antibody response to some vaccines and other adverse health effects.
State public water system testing found PFOS in Speedway’s drinking water at 2.3 nanograms per liter, a level below the national limit. PFOA and PFOS were also found in water wells used by the town of Speedway and Citizens Energy Group for drinking water.
Public water systems will have until 2031 to meet the new standards.
Which PFAS regulations will be dropped?
The Trump administration said it would eliminate limits for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA — the latter of which is a chemical more commonly known as GenX. All three are PFAS chemicals that served as replacements for PFOA and PFOS. If allowed to take effect, the regulation would have limited each chemical to 10 nanograms per liter.
It also plans to drop the Hazard Index, a formula that would assess how the combined levels of those three chemicals, plus another called PFBS, affect drinking water systems and require further action to limit their levels at water systems.
PFBS was found in treated drinking water supplied by Citizens Energy Group, and both PFBS and PFHxS were found in Speedway’s treated water.
PFHxS has been found in untreated water used by Speedway and Citizens Energy Group, PFNA has been found in Speedway’s water wells and GenX in Citizens Energy Group water wells.
The EPA has not announced when it would submit a proposed rule to eliminate these regulations.
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Mirror Indy reporter Enrique Saenz covers west Indianapolis. Contact him at 317-983-4203 or enrique.saenz@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on Bluesky at @enriquesaenz.bsky.social.
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