On April 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the first national drinking water standard with the force of law to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals". The main contents include:

(1) Establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for six PFAS in drinking water and determine their health-based, non-enforceable maximum contaminant level targets (MCLGs), as detailed in the table below, including PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA as individual contaminant MCLs. And containing at least two or more mixtures use the Risk index MCL to indicate the combination and co-existence levels of these PFAS in drinking water.

(2) The relevant PFAS shall be monitored, with 3 years to complete initial monitoring (until 2027), followed by ongoing compliance monitoring and disclosure to the public, and 5 years (until 2029) to implement solutions to reduce PFAS if the level of PFAS in drinking water exceeds MCL, starting in 2029. If more than MCL is detected, action must be taken to reduce PFAS levels and the public must be notified of the violation.