FAQScience & Health March 1, 2024 1 min read
What are the current PFAS limits in drinking water?
Comparison of PFAS drinking water limits: EU DWD, US EPA MCLs (2024), WHO guidelines, and precautionary utility targets.
What are the current regulatory limits for PFAS in drinking water?
PFAS limits vary significantly by jurisdiction. The EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184) sets a sum of 20 specific PFAS at 0.1 µg/L and a "PFAS total" at 0.5 µg/L. The US EPA (April 2024) set maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS individually at 4 ng/L (parts per trillion), with a hazard index for four other PFAS. WHO's 2022 guidelines set provisional values of 0.1 µg/L for PFOA and 0.02 µg/L for PFOS. Many utilities have adopted precautionary targets well below regulatory limits.