The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on April 14, 2026, a new initiative called PFAS OUTreach — or PFAS OUT. According to EPA, the new effort proactively works with communities and water systems to reduce exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in drinking water, “years ahead of compliance with federal regulatory requirements.” EPA states that it aims to engage directly about 3,000 drinking water systems nationwide that have known challenges with PFOA and PFOS, “ensuring they are aware of the support available to them” (approximately two percent of water systems). All water systems will be able to access PFAS OUT resources and can secure technical assistance through EPA’s RealWaterTA.
EPA’s spring 2025 Unified Agenda includes the following items regarding drinking water and PFAS:
- Extending the Compliance Deadline for the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) Rulemaking: EPA states that it will propose a new rule that provides additional time for public water systems to meet the compliance deadlines for the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) in the NPDWR for PFOA and PFOS. EPA states that through this rule, it “intends [to] address the most significant compliance challenges EPA has heard from public water systems and other stakeholders while still ensuring the long-term protection of the American people from PFAS-contaminated drinking water.” EPA submitted a proposed rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review on February 24, 2026. More information on EPA’s PFAS NPDWR is available in our May 9, 2024, memorandum.
- Withdrawal of Regulatory Determinations and Removal of Related Provisions for Four PFAS Substances (Perfluorohexane Sulfonic Acid (PFHxS), Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA), Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Dimer Acid and Its Ammonium Salt (HFPO-DA, Commonly Known as GenX), and the Mixture of These Three PFAS Plus Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid (PFBS)): EPA intends to propose to withdraw its regulatory determinations to regulate PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and the mixture of these three PFAS plus PFBS under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). EPA also intends to propose to rescind all associated regulatory provisions associated with the final PFAS NPDWR exclusive to these PFAS that were promulgated pursuant to the regulatory determinations that EPA is now proposing to withdraw. EPA submitted a proposed rule to OMB for review on February 24, 2026.
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