Decision dismantles first-ever national standards for ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water, endangering health of Americans everywhere

MAY 14, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Great Lakes PFAS Action Network (GLPAN) today issued the following statement condemning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to roll back the country’s first-ever drinking water standards for four of six PFAS chemicals finalized just last year. 

“Today’s decision by the EPA rolls back monumental science-based standards meant to protect our health. These actions will undoubtedly make the drinking water of millions of people across the country less safe,” said Tony Spaniola, co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network. “Communities in Michigan, like Oscoda, have grappled with toxic PFAS contamination for years. Rolling back the drinking water standards undoes years of progress to protect the health of these communities.”

The drinking water standards, which were finalized in April 2024, established legally enforceable individual Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion (ppt), MCLs for PFHxS, PFNA, and GenX at 10 ppt, and set a Hazard Index MCL for chemical mixtures containing two or more of either, PFHxS, PFNA, HGPO-DA, or PFBS. 

“The EPA has the fundamental role of creating and enforcing safeguards for our water. Today’s action by the Trump EPA does just the opposite,” said Sandy Wynn-Stelt, co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network. “Drinking water contaminated with toxic PFAS chemicals is linked to numerous health impacts and threatens the health of communities in Michigan and beyond. We are calling on members of Congress to do everything they can to oppose these rollbacks and protect our drinking water from toxic PFAS contamination.”

The final rule required public water systems to begin PFAS monitoring and compliance practices by 2027, implement solutions to reduce PFAS levels above MCLs by 2029, and be subject to penalties for violations. Today’s decision rescinds MCLs for all but PFOA and PFOS and extends the compliance timeline from 2029 to 2031.

Despite state-level drinking water standards in place in Michigan, the EPA’s decision to roll back drinking water standards will have devastating effects on Michigan communities, particularly those already impacted by toxic PFAS contamination. While the EPA cites sources of PFAS like paper straws, the vast majority of Americans are exposed to PFAS chemicals through drinking water. Today’s decision goes against the best available science and further endangers the health of families across Michigan, and the nation.