New EPA Data Shows 7M More People Exposed To 'Forever Chemicals' In U.S. Drinking Water

New data released by the Environmental Protection Agency shows an additional 7 million Americans have drinking water contaminated by the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. It brings the total number of people at risk of drinking this contaminated tap water to more than 172 million across the U.S.

“The EPA’s latest report confirms what scientists have feared: PFAS contamination is a public health disaster,” said David Andrews, Ph.D., Acting Chief Science Officer at the Environmental Working Group.

“Drinking water is a major source of PFAS exposure. The sheer number of contaminated sites shows that these chemicals are likely present in most of the U.S. water supply,” he said.

The findings come from tests of the nation’s drinking water supply conducted as part of the EPA’s Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, or UCMR 5, which requires U.S. water utilities to test drinking water for 29 individual PFAS compounds.

This latest round of data confirms the presence of one or more PFAS compounds at 200 additional locations. Adding these 7 million people to previously collected UCMR and state data shows the total of over 172 million Americans face the risk of drinking PFAS-contaminated water.

The EPA is expected to release more UCMR 5 results in the coming months.

Protections under threat

The EPA has said it will roll back limits on four PFAS in drinking water, leaving those chemicals unregulated. It plans to only retain standards for the two most notorious PFAS, PFOA and PFOS. These standards, known as maximum contaminant levels or MCLs, set enforceable limits on the amount of contaminants allowed in drinking water.

Even with keeping the PFOA and PFOS MCLs in place, rolling back the four other limits will make it harder to hold polluters responsible and ensure clean drinking water.

In addition, the EPA’s plan to reverse the four science-based MCLs likely contradicts an anti-backsliding provision in the Safe Drinking Water Act. That law requires any revision to a federal drinking water standard “maintain, or provide for greater, protection of the health of persons.”

“It’s worrying to see the EPA renege on its commitments to making America cleaner and safer, especially as it ignores its own guidelines to do so,” said Melanie Benesh, EWG’s vice president for government affairs.

Widespread PFAS pollution

The Trump administration’s PFAS standards rollback could grant polluters unchecked freedom to release toxic forever chemicals into U.S. waterways, endangering millions of Americans.

EWG estimates nearly 30,000 industrial polluters could be discharging PFAS into the environment, including into sources of drinking water. Restrictions on industrial discharges would lower the amount of PFAS ending up in drinking water sources.

“Addressing the problem means going to the source. For PFAS, that’s industrial sites, chemical plants and the unnecessary use of these chemicals in consumer products,” said Andrews.

Health risks of PFAS exposure

PFAS are toxic at extremely low levels. They are known as forever chemicals because once released into the environment, they do not break down, and they can build up in the body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected PFAS in the blood of 99 percent of Americans, including newborn babies.

Very low doses of PFAS have been linked to suppression of the immune system. Studies show exposure to PFAS can also increase the risk of cancer, harm fetal development and reduce vaccine effectiveness.

For over 30 years, EWG has been dedicated to safeguarding families from harmful environmental exposures, holding polluters accountable, and advocating for clean, safe water.

“Everyone deserves access to clean water, and it shouldn’t fall to consumers alone to filter PFAS from their tap water,” said Andrews.

“Some home water filters are designed to reduce PFAS levels. They also help remove other contaminants, providing a broader benefit. But regular filter replacement is key. An old filter can make PFAS levels worse than untreated tap water,” he said.

For people who know of or suspect the presence of PFAS in their tap water, a home filtration system is the most efficient way to reduce exposure. EWG researchers tested the performance of 10 popular water filters to evaluate how well each reduced PFAS levels detected in home tap water.

About Environmental Working Group (EWG)
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.