'Forever chemicals' in the tap water drunk by 197 million Americans

About 197 million people in the United States drink tap water contaminated with PFAS, the so-called "forever chemicals," according to final testing data published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and analyzed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). That is 23 million more than in previous tests.

PFAS are synthetic substances that do not break down in the environment or in the body and have been linked to serious health problems. They are used in nonstick pans, waterproof clothing and firefighting foams. The EPA's latest round of testing, under the UCMR 5 rule, found PFAS in 3,595 water systems, and the total number of known contaminated sites rose to 13,459 across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and four territories.

The finding comes as the EPA considers loosening limits for four of these chemicals. The agency is keeping the standards for the two best-known ones, PFOA and PFOS, at 4 parts per trillion, but wants to extend the deadline for meeting them to 2031. In 2024, the first national limits for six PFAS in drinking water were set.

EWG recommends checking the local utility's annual water quality report and, if PFAS are present, using certified filters to reduce them. Its interactive map lets residents check whether their community's water system has confirmed detections.

Photo: EWG

Source: Environmental Working Group