Breaking Down the Barriers: How 2024’s Revolutionary EPA PFAS Standards Are Transforming Home Water Safety
The year 2024 marked a watershed moment in American water safety with the Environmental Protection Agency’s groundbreaking regulations targeting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.” In April 2024, EPA issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful PFAS, fundamentally changing how households across the nation approach water purification.
Understanding the New EPA PFAS Standards
The final rule will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses. The EPA established strict limits for six specific PFAS compounds: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (known as GenX Chemicals), with 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS and 10 parts per trillion for GenX, PFNA and PFHxS.
These standards represent some of the most protective health limits on PFAS in drinking water globally. All public water systems have three years to complete their initial monitoring for these chemicals and where PFAS is found at levels that exceed these standards, systems must implement solutions to reduce PFAS in their drinking water within five years.
Why PFAS Matters for Florida Families
PFAS chemicals have been used since the 1940s in countless consumer products, from non-stick cookware to waterproof clothing. PFAS exposure over a long period of time can cause cancer and other serious illnesses that decrease quality of life or result in death, and PFAS exposure during critical life stages such as pregnancy or early childhood can also result in adverse health impacts.
For Florida residents, these concerns are particularly relevant given the state’s unique water challenges. Quality Safe Water of Florida is dedicated to ensuring every Florida family has access to clean, safe, and purified water, committed to providing the highest quality, efficient, and affordable water treatment solutions, prioritizing the health and well-being of our customers.
Proven Technologies for PFAS Removal
The EPA has identified several “Best Available Technologies” for meeting the new PFAS standards. Granular activated carbon, anion exchange, reverse osmosis, and nanofiltration were identified by the EPA as the “Best Available Technologies” (BATs) for meeting the PFAS Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs).
Activated carbon treatment is the most studied treatment for PFAS removal and GAC has been shown to effectively remove PFAS from drinking water when it is used in a flow through filter mode after particulates have already been removed. However, GAC works well on longer-chain PFAS like PFOA and PFOS, but shorter chain PFAS like Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) and Perfluorobutyrate (PFBA) do not adsorb as well.
High-pressure membranes, such as nanofiltration or reverse osmosis, have been extremely effective at removing PFAS and research shows that these types of membranes are typically more than 90 percent effective at removing a wide range of PFAS, including shorter chain PFAS.
The Florida Advantage: Local Expertise Meets Federal Standards
Quality Safe Water of Florida is a state-wide Water Treatment Company with over 50 years of experience and a member of the National Water Quality Association. This extensive experience positions them uniquely to help Florida families navigate the new EPA requirements.
The company’s approach aligns perfectly with the new federal standards. They provide custom-designed water purification systems, based on water analysis and family’s water usage and needs. This personalized approach is crucial because the EPA does not specify how water systems must comply with the PFAS MCLs or specific technologies that must be utilized, though EPA believes most systems will select technologies that are BATs.
Advanced Solutions for Modern Challenges
Modern water purification systems now incorporate multiple technologies to address PFAS contamination effectively. These systems enhance water quality by eliminating hardness-causing minerals, improving taste, and preserving appliance & plumbing longevity while improving every drop of water in your home with comprehensive filtration for a safe and clean daily experience and utilizing advanced exclusive filtration to produce clean, pure water for drinking, cooking & various uses.
EPA found that the GAC, IX, and RO point-of-use systems studied can greatly reduce PFAS levels, making these technologies essential components of comprehensive home water treatment strategies.
Implementation Timeline and Consumer Action
The regulatory timeline is clear: public water systems must complete initial PFAS monitoring in their water supply by 2027 and implement solutions that reduce PFAS to regulatory levels by 2029. However, consumers don’t need to wait for municipal action.
Reducing levels of PFAS in your water is an effective way to limit your exposure to these chemicals, and point-of-use (POU) filters are a relatively inexpensive treatment for reducing PFAS in the home.
Looking Forward: A Safer Water Future
The 2024 EPA PFAS standards represent more than regulatory compliance—they signal a fundamental shift toward proactive water safety. Quality Safe Water of Florida’s unwavering dedication to this vision sets them apart as Florida’s most trusted water treatment company, never wavering from their founders’ original mission.
As these new standards take effect, Florida families have access to proven technologies and local expertise to ensure their water meets and exceeds federal safety requirements. The combination of stringent federal standards and advanced treatment technologies creates an unprecedented opportunity for households to achieve the highest levels of water purity and safety.
The era of “forever chemicals” in drinking water is ending, replaced by an age of informed consumers, advanced treatment technologies, and comprehensive protection for families across Florida and beyond.