Forever chemicals in drinking water: EPA data shows widespread detections

EPA records released Feb. 12 report PFAS detections in public water systems serving about 151 million people, and more than 1,050 systems reported yearly averages above the agency's 4 parts-per-trillion limit.

New EPA records released Feb. 12 report detections of PFAS, often called forever chemicals, in public drinking water systems across the United States. The dataset covers samples collected from 2023 through 2025 under an EPA testing mandate. The records show detections in systems serving roughly 151 million people, and more than 1,050 systems reported yearly averages above the agency's 4 parts-per-trillion (ppt) regulatory limit. The Trump administration has revoked the EPA's earlier endangerment finding, as noted in reporting. Key points: - The EPA required most drinking water systems to test for about 30 PFAS between 2023 and 2025, and released updated results Feb. 12. - Tests detected PFAS in systems serving an estimated 151 million people nationwide. - More than 1,050 water systems reported yearly averages of PFOS or PFOA above the EPA's 4 ppt limit; those systems together serve about 52 million people. - Over 9,000 utilities have submitted full sample data while more than 1,000 have submitted partial results; additional violations may appear when the dataset is completed. - The EPA plans a final data update by fall 2026, and municipalities have until 2031 to meet the new PFAS limits or face potential enforcement. Summary: The EPA's updated records indicate PFAS detections across many public water systems and identify a substantial number of systems currently above the agency's 4 ppt standard, affecting millions of residents. A final dataset is scheduled for fall 2026, and municipalities have a compliance deadline of 2031; longer-term public health and legal outcomes are undetermined at this time.