Joint agency statement on new federal limits on PFAS in drinking water

Following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Primary Drinking Water Regulation announcement of new Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) on certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water, the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued this statement:

Today’s announcement from EPA is a welcome step to set clear, enforceable standards for the levels of PFAS in drinking water systems around the state. Minnesota has been working for decades to protect people from negative health effects of PFAS exposure. In anticipation of the EPA release, state agencies have been preparing for lower contaminant levels, which puts us in a strong position to continue this work. While communities have up to five years to come into compliance, we will continue to partner with drinking water systems around the state to provide guidance on how they can ensure safe drinking water for their residents.

Because Minnesota has been a national leader in this work for years, we know that addressing PFAS in Minnesota’s drinking water will require significant additional resources and collaboration among multiple partners. We will continue to work with our federal delegation, EPA and parties responsible for PFAS pollution, to secure the resources that communities need in order to access clean drinking water.

More information about PFAS and drinking water can be found on the MDH website at Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. Testing results for community water systems are found on the Dashboard for PFAS Testing in Drinking Water. More information about Minnesota’s PFAS Blueprint and forthcoming PFAS in product prohibitions can be found on the MPCA website at PFAS in Minnesota. Information about the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for PFOS and PFOA can be found on the MDH website at PFAS Standards for Drinking Water.