Webinar – EPA PFAS Test Methods and Regulatory Update

In April 2024 US EPA finalized the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA, PFOS and four other PFAS. It includes complicated requirements we’ve never had in water regulation before, including the Hazard Index MCL and Trigger Levels to determine if a system may go on a reduced monitoring schedule. Regulators are expressing concerns that some labs have been unable to report low enough detection limits to allow systems to calculate their Trigger Levels. In May 2025 US EPA announced its intent to rescind and reconsider 4 of the MCLs. During this presentation attendees will learn how these interact and are calculated, the timeline for implementation of the Initial Monitoring and enforcement of the MCLs, and how UCMR 5 data can be used for Initial Monitoring.

US EPA finalized EPA 1633 and 1621 in January 2024. In April 2024 EPA took a big step that impacts the nation’s NPDES program with respect to PFAS by issuing a new Information Collection Request (ICR) proposal. During this presentation we will discuss how this will impact POTWs and industrial dischargers, and what analytical testing EPA plans to require. It is likely that the compound specific method EPA 1633 as well as EPA 1621 for Adsorbable Organic Fluorine will be utilized. The Adsorbable Organic Fluorine method can render insightful data for wastewater professionals as well as consultants running pilot studies on complex waste streams. Sampling SOPs for PFAS are restrictive to minimize cross-contamination. During this presentation you will learn about EPA’s PFAS ICR, the latest test methods, potential sources of contamination, implications for biosolids/sludge, appropriate field sampling guidelines, and recent regulatory changes.