Press Release:  EPA Moves to Roll Back PFAS Drinking Water Protections, Leaving Americans Exposed to Toxic Chemicals at the Tap  9/12/2025

CONTACT: 
Aaron Bharucha, Public Relations Associate
(509) 429-1699 and epn-press@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org

Washington D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a motion in federal court to vacate portions of its 2024 rule setting drinking water limits for PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” seeking to strike enforceable standards for four different PFAS: GenX, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFBS. This action follows the agency’s earlier decision to extend by two years the compliance deadline for drinking water systems to meet standards set for PFOA and PFOS, the two most widespread PFAS. 

Dr. Betsy Southerland, the former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, a 30-year EPA employee who now volunteers her expertise with the Environmental Protection network, made the following statement on EPA’s efforts to roll back PFAS drinking water standards: 

“Every single thing to prevent, control, or clean up PFAS contamination to protect human health is being delayed and undermined by EPA Administrator Zeldin’s current plans. This motion, which aims to rescind standards for dangerous PFAS in our drinking water, is the most egregious example. 

“The impact of these chemicals is clear. We know that this is significant for pregnant women who are drinking water contaminated with PFAS, because it can cause low birth weight in children. We know children have developmental effects from being exposed to it. We know there’s an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer with these chemicals. 

“Two of the four chemicals targeted in this motion are the ones that we expect to be the most prevalent, and only increasing contamination in the future. With this rollback, those standards would be gone. 

“Americans remain exposed to toxic PFAS in tap water without enforceable national standards.

“Bottom line: If you don’t want to continue drinking these toxic PFAS chemicals for years into the future, you need to buy a filter to protect yourself because EPA will not protect you.” 

Background

• Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA is required to set health-protective standards for contaminants in drinking water, including PFAS.
• In 2023, EPA set limits on six PFAS chemicals, based on scientific evidence of their harm to human health. 
• In May 2025, EPA announced that it would delay compliance standards for PFOA and PFOS until 2031. 
• On Thursday, September 11, 2025, EPA filed a motion in federal court to eliminate enforceable standards for GenX, PFHxS, PFNA and PFBS. 

Dr. Betsy Southerland is the former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water (2012-2017) and is available to speak with the media about PFAS and the new EPA regulations related to forever chemicals.

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