Quick summary
• Over 143 million Americans may be exposed to toxic PFAS in drinking water, linked to cancer and immune suppression.
• PFAS, found in industrial processes and consumer products, accumulate in the body and environment without breaking down.
• EPA data reveals contamination in 8,865 communities across all 50 states, with $9 billion allocated for cleanup under Biden’s infrastructure law.
• New standards require utilities to reduce PFAS by 2029, but 45 million people in states without regulations depend solely on federal protections.
• Legal settlements with polluters, including 3M, have resulted in billions for cleanup, but concerns rise over potential rollbacks under the Trump administration.
• Nearly 30,000 industrial sites are suspected of contributing to PFAS pollution, with more EPA data expected as testing continues.
More than 143 million Americans could have toxic “forever chemicals” in their drinking water, according to new data released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These chemicals, known as PFAS, do not break down in the environment and accumulate in the human body, posing severe health risks. As the Trump administration prepares to take office, environmental advocates fear progress on regulating these contaminants could be rolled back, leaving millions vulnerable to PFAS exposure.
The EPA’s Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) requires water utilities nationwide to test for 29 types of PFAS. This latest round of testing confirmed contamination at 2,394 locations across all 50 states, adding 11 million more people to the tally of those potentially exposed. These findings bring the known total of Americans affected by PFAS-contaminated water to 143 million—a number likely to rise as results from 30 percent of water utilities are still pending.
A 2020 study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) estimated that up to 200 million people could be exposed to PFAS through their water. The persistence of PFAS, coupled with their ability to leach into water supplies from industrial sites, firefighting foam, and consumer products, makes them a pervasive threat.
Even low levels of PFAS in the bloodstream have been linked to significant health issues. Studies show that PFAS exposure can suppress the immune system, increase cancer risk, harm fetal development, and reduce vaccine effectiveness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly everyone in the U.S.—including newborns—has detectable levels of PFAS in their blood.
Although some PFAS compounds, such as PFOS and PFOA, have been phased out of production, thousands of other variants remain in use, and industrial polluters continue to release these chemicals into the environment. EWG identified nearly 30,000 facilities that may be discharging PFAS into U.S. waterways, adding to the contamination burden.
The Biden administration has taken significant steps to address PFAS contamination, beginning with the EPA’s designation of PFOS and PFOA as hazardous substances. This action triggered $9 billion in federal funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help water utilities identify and remove PFAS from drinking water supplies.
In April 2024, the EPA introduced enforceable drinking water standards for several PFAS compounds, setting maximum allowable limits of 4 parts per trillion for PFOS and PFOA and 10 parts per trillion for other PFAS types. Utilities have until 2029 to meet these standards, with special grants allocated to lower-income communities to assist with compliance.
The Department of Defense has also initiated cleanup efforts at more than 700 military bases, where PFAS-laden firefighting foam has caused extensive groundwater contamination.
In recent years, local water utilities have filed hundreds of lawsuits to hold PFAS manufacturers accountable for cleanup costs. In June 2023, chemical giant 3M agreed to a $10 billion settlement with utilities, while DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva established a $1.18 billion compensation fund for affected communities.
Despite these settlements, taxpayers continue to bear much of the financial burden. The EPA is now working to distribute federal funds to utilities nationwide, helping them upgrade filtration systems to meet the new standards.
The progress made on PFAS protections is now at risk with the incoming Trump administration. Trump and his allies have historically favored deregulation, and there is widespread concern that his EPA could weaken or repeal the new drinking water standards. According to EWG, rolling back these regulations would leave nearly 46 million Americans in states without PFAS safeguards vulnerable to toxic contamination.
The Trump administration’s track record includes dismantling environmental protections and granting polluters greater leeway. If the PFAS standards are reversed or enforcement is delayed, millions could face prolonged exposure to these hazardous chemicals.
While federal and state regulations are critical, consumers can take steps to protect themselves from PFAS exposure. Home water filtration systems are effective at reducing PFAS levels, but they require regular maintenance to avoid chemical buildup.
“Everyone deserves access to clean water, and it shouldn’t fall to consumers alone to filter PFAS from their tap water,” said David Andrews, a senior scientist at EWG.
The organization also urges lawmakers to expand funding for PFAS cleanup efforts and implement stricter industrial discharge regulations to address the root causes of contamination.
The latest EPA data underscores the urgency of addressing PFAS pollution as a public health crisis. Strong federal protections are essential to ensure clean drinking water for all Americans, particularly those in communities with limited resources.
“Rolling back the PFAS drinking water standard would mean letting Americans continue to drink water contaminated with chemicals linked to cancer, immune suppression, and developmental issues,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs.
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