Governor Hochul must sign legislation to implement stronger drinking water standards for toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”
In recent years, communities across NY and the nation have discovered their drinking water sources are contaminated with harmful PFAS chemicals. PFAS are referred to as “forever chemicals” because they are very persistent, meaning they build up in our bodies and don’t break down in the environment. New science indicates there is no safe level of exposure to PFAS in drinking water and we must do more to protect public health from this growing threat.
In 2024, the U.S. EPA adopted strong standards to limit PFAS in drinking water to the lowest level that is technically feasible in order to protect public health nationwide. Under the Trump administration, the EPA is now working to delay and rollback these critical drinking water protections—putting the safety of at least 1.3 million New Yorkers at risk. To protect New Yorkers from this federal rollback, the NYS Legislature unanimously passed bipartisan legislation to strengthen the state's PFAS drinking water standards—now we need the Governor to sign the bill into law! Email Governor Hochul today!
BACKGROUND
What is PFAS and Where Does it Come From?
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products for many decades, due to their non-stick, grease-resistant and waterproof properties. PFAS is used in cookware, packaging, textiles, furniture, adhesives, paint, and numerous other products. According to the U.S. EPA, there are 3,500 industrial sites across New York State that may be handling or using PFAS chemicals.
PFAS Threatens Our Health
Studies show that human exposure to PFAS is widespread—it’s estimated that 98% of people in the U.S. have PFAS compounds in their blood. Exposure to PFAS can lead to higher rates of kidney and testicular cancer, higher cholesterol levels, thyroid problems, adverse developmental effects and decreased immune response in children, and other adverse health impacts. EPA has issued health advisories for certain PFAS chemicals, indicating that there is no safe level of exposure to these chemicals in drinking water.
PFAS Pollutes our Environment and Drinking Water
Due to widespread use of PFAS chemicals in numerous products and industries, PFAS chemicals have become ubiquitous in the environment, including drinking water. Testing has revealed some levels of PFAS in approximately 50% of public water systems across NYS, with about 250 water systems exceeding NY’s drinking water standards for two PFAS chemicals—PFOA and PFOS.
EPA’s Drinking Water Standards:
In 2024, after establishing that there is no safe level of exposure to certain PFAS chemicals in drinking water, the U.S. EPA finalized a rule to establish the first nationwide enforceable limits on toxic PFAS chemicals allowed in drinking water. For PFOA and PFOS, EPA adopted individual drinking water limits of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) per chemical. This is much stronger than New York’s current standards for PFOA and PFOS, which were set at 10 ppt in 2020. The EPA also established limits of 10 ppt for three additional PFAS chemicals (PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX). EPA’s standards represent the strongest standards that are currently technically feasible.
Map of Communities with PFAS above EPA, but below NY drinking water standards (representing 1.3 million New Yorkers)
SOURCE: ewg.org
Under the Trump administration, the EPA is now rolling back its PFAS drinking water standards. They are delaying implementation of drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS by an additional two years and rescinding the drinking water standards for the additional PFAS chemicals. Rolling back these standards puts at least 1.3 million New Yorkers, the majority of whom are on Long Island, at risk to higher levels of dangerous PFAS chemicals in their drinking water.
New York State Needs More Protective Drinking Water Standards
The New York State Senate and Assembly passed legislation to codify EPA’s original 2024 drinking water standards for PFAS—protecting New Yorkers from recent Trump rollbacks. The bill would establish drinking water standards of 4 ppt each for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX, and maintain the EPA’s original 2029 compliance deadline. Maine, Vermont, and Wisconsin have already taken similar action. Now we need Governor Hochul to sign the legislation codifying stronger drinking water standards for PFAS chemicals into law!
Thank you for taking action!
Sincerely,
All of us at CCE