The Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday finalized PFAS drinking water limits, a move the agency claims will protect 100 million people from PFAS pollution.
Farmers and ranchers do not produce PFAS; however, these chemicals can be found in the water that is provided to their livestock and crops. In certain areas of the country, PFAS levels have risen in milk, beef, and row crops, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. EPA is taking steps to protect public health by establishing legally enforceable levels for several PFAS known to occur individually and as mixtures in drinking water. This rule sets limits for five individual substances.
EPA estimates that between about six percent and ten percent of the 66,000 public drinking water systems subject to this rule may have to take action to reduce PFAS to meet these new standards. All public water systems have three years to complete their initial monitoring for these chemicals.