--- title: "EPA keeps PFOA and PFOS limits, proposes a 2031 deadline option" description: "As of October 30, 2026, EPA's proposal keeps the 4.0 ppt limits for PFOA and PFOS and lets water systems ask for two more years, to 2031. What it means." url: https://aes.multisites.ai/blog/epa-pfas-drinking-water-rule-2031-proposal publisher: Advanced Environmental Services phone: +1-314-865-2662 quote: https://aes.multisites.ai/contact --- PFAS: 4 min read, published October 30, 2026 # EPA keeps PFOA and PFOS limits, proposes a 2031 deadline option As of October 30, 2026, EPA's page describes a proposed rule, not a final one. It would keep the PFOA and PFOS limits at 4.0 parts per trillion each and let water systems request two more years, to 2031, to comply. EPA announced it May 18, 2026. The comment period closed July 20, 2026. [Request a Quote](https://aes.multisites.ai/contact)[(314) 865-2662](tel:+1-314-865-2662) ![Building wrapped in white containment sheeting with an AES storage container in front](https://aes.multisites.ai/_astro/AESI-083.BQiJ3BQs_Z1FKjAJ.webp) ![AES crew member in a protective suit and orange hard hat removing wall material from scaffolding](https://aes.multisites.ai/_astro/098.hgZ7AvUK_QfCE8.webp) ![Excavator and crew behind traffic cones at a gas station tank removal](https://aes.multisites.ai/_astro/tank-removal-2025-09-30-10.31.20.Cz2VZMoQ_1MQ7EG.webp) ## What did EPA propose, and where does it stand as of October 30, 2026? EPA proposed to keep the PFOA and PFOS drinking water limits and add a way for water systems to get two more years to meet them. As of October 30, 2026, EPA’s page still calls this a proposed rule. The comment period closed July 20, 2026. We found no final rule on EPA’s page. EPA announced the proposal on May 18, 2026. In its words, the rule would “uphold the federal drinking water Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs)” for [PFOA](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/pfoa) and [PFOS](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/pfos) while providing “an option for drinking water systems to request two additional years - to 2031 - to comply.” EPA’s page was last updated October 8, 2026. This status can change. Check the EPA page before you act on it. ## Did the PFOA and PFOS limits change? No. EPA says the proposal “does not change” the limits set in its 2024 rule. Both stay at 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt). A [maximum contaminant level](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/mcl-maximum-contaminant-level) is the legal limit for a contaminant in public drinking water. Item 2024 final rule May 2026 proposal PFOA limit 4.0 ppt 4.0 ppt (unchanged) PFOS limit 4.0 ppt 4.0 ppt (unchanged) Compliance date By 2029 2029, or April 2031 for systems granted an exemption Monitoring and reporting Set by the 2024 rule Same timeframes still apply One ppt is one part in a trillion. See [parts per trillion](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/parts-per-trillion-ppt) for a plain explanation. ## How would the two extra years work? A system would ask for a federal exemption. EPA calls it the “federal exemption framework.” It would let eligible systems in states and tribes without primacy for those limits request and obtain a two-year exemption. The aim is to give them time to comply by April 2031. Systems that get the extension must tell the people they serve. EPA says they have to do it through annual public notification, and community systems must also say so in their Consumer Confidence Reports. The notices must explain why the exemption is in place and what steps the system is taking. EPA’s stated reasons: systems need data, time to build new controls, and a financing plan. The agency says systems that cannot comply by 2029 “likely face real and significant challenges.” ## What would still be required during the extension? Monitoring, reporting and, for higher results, short-term action. EPA says exempt systems must still meet all monitoring and reporting timeframes of the 2024 rule. Under the proposal, a system with a PFOA or PFOS result at or above 12 ppt would have to take short-term steps to reduce exposure. Systems at or above 4.0 ppt must still monitor most often and report results to customers. ## What about the other PFAS in the 2024 rule? EPA is handling those in a separate proposal. It proposes to rescind the rules for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX) and the Hazard Index mixture of those three plus PFBS. The public hearing and comment period for that rescission ran alongside this one. That proposal is not the topic of this post. EPA’s PFAS page lists it as a second action announced May 18, 2026. ## What should a property owner or business do now? Do not wait for the final rule to learn your water. These steps are practical and do not depend on the outcome: 1. Ask your water utility for its PFOA and PFOS results. EPA recommends contacting your drinking water system. 2. If you use a private well, no utility report applies to you. A lab test is how you learn your levels. 3. If you own a site with a possible PFAS source, get a site assessment before you plan cleanup budgets. 4. Learn to read your results. See our post on [how to read a PFAS lab report](https://aes.multisites.ai/blog/how-to-read-a-pfas-lab-report). The limits apply to public water systems. Our guide to the [PFAS drinking water rule](https://aes.multisites.ai/guides/pfas-drinking-water-rule-explained) explains where the limit applies and where it does not. ## What is the timeline so far? Here are the dates that EPA’s pages give, as of October 30, 2026: Date Event April 10, 2024 EPA announces the final PFAS drinking water rule May 2025 EPA announces its intent to extend PFOA and PFOS deadlines and to rescind other limits May 18, 2026 EPA announces two proposed rules July 7, 2026 Virtual public hearing July 20, 2026 Comment period closes 2029 Compliance date under the 2024 rule April 2031 End of the proposed two-year exemption Dates after today’s check can change what applies. EPA’s page on the proposal lists a last update of October 8, 2026. ## Next step Advanced Environmental Services offers [PFAS testing](https://aes.multisites.ai/pfas-testing), [PFAS remediation](https://aes.multisites.ai/pfas-remediation) and emergency response. Read our [PFAS regulations](https://aes.multisites.ai/pfas-regulations) page, then call (314) 865-2662 or use the quote form at [/contact](https://aes.multisites.ai/contact). Our team is available 24/7 for urgent cleanup needs. ## Frequently asked questions ### Did EPA change the PFOA and PFOS limits? No, not as of October 30, 2026. EPA's page says the proposed mechanism does not change the PFOA and PFOS limits set in the 2024 rule, which remain 4.0 parts per trillion each. The proposal only adds a way to get more time to comply. ### Is the 2031 deadline final? Not according to EPA's page as of October 30, 2026. It calls the rule proposed. The comment period closed July 20, 2026. Check the EPA page for the final rule status before you plan around 2031 or 2029. ### What would a water system with high PFOA or PFOS have to do? Under the proposal, a system with a PFOA or PFOS sample result at or above 12 ppt would have to take short-term steps to reduce exposure during the extra time. EPA also says systems must still follow the 2024 monitoring and reporting timeframes. ## Terms on this page - [MCL (maximum contaminant level)](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/mcl-maximum-contaminant-level) - [Parts per trillion (ppt)](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/parts-per-trillion-ppt) - [PFAS](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/pfas) - [PFOA](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/pfoa) - [PFOS](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/pfos) ## Sources 1. [U.S. EPA: Proposed PFOA and PFOS Compliance Extension Rule](https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/proposed-pfoa-and-pfos-compliance-extension-rule) 2. [U.S. EPA: Proposed PFOA and PFOS Compliance Extension Rule, comment period](https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/proposed-pfoa-and-pfos-compliance-extension-rule) 3. [U.S. EPA: Proposed PFOA and PFOS Compliance Extension Rule, limits unchanged](https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/proposed-pfoa-and-pfos-compliance-extension-rule) 4. [U.S. EPA: Proposed PFOA and PFOS Compliance Extension Rule, short-term actions](https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/proposed-pfoa-and-pfos-compliance-extension-rule) 5. [U.S. EPA: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), final 2024 rule](https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas) Written by Advanced Environmental Services and checked against the sources above on October 30, 2026. Rules change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [The EPA PFAS drinking water rule explained: limits, deadlines and what is proposedEPA's 2024 rule sets legally enforceable limits for six PFAS in public drinking water, including 4.0 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS. Compliance is due in 2029. As of October 30, 2026, EPA has proposed, but not finalized, an optional extension to 2031 and the removal of four other limits.](https://aes.multisites.ai/guides/pfas-drinking-water-rule-explained) - [How to read a PFAS lab report: ppt, PFOA, PFOS and limitsA PFAS lab report lists each compound it tested for, such as PFOA and PFOS, with a result in parts per trillion (ppt), also written ng/L. Compare PFOA and PFOS to EPA's 4.0 ppt drinking water limits. EPA decides compliance by a running annual average, so one result alone does not prove a violation.](https://aes.multisites.ai/blog/how-to-read-a-pfas-lab-report) - [PFAS testing for property owners: when to test, how sampling works and what results meanTest for PFAS if your property sits near an airport, military base, landfill or industrial site, used firefighting foam, or draws from a private well. A site assessment picks sample points, trained staff collect clean samples, and an accredited lab reports results in parts per trillion. AES says most results arrive in two to four weeks.](https://aes.multisites.ai/guides/pfas-testing-for-property-owners) - [Lead paint in pre-1978 homes: when to test, renovate safely or abateAny home built before 1978 may have lead-based paint. In Missouri, an estimated 60% of homes built 1960 to 1978 do, rising to 90% before 1949. Intact paint is a lower risk. Peeling paint and renovation dust are the problem. Missouri requires licensed lead professionals for abatement and for paint chip sampling.](https://aes.multisites.ai/guides/lead-paint-in-pre-1978-homes) - [Mold after water damage: how to inspect, remediate and verify the fixDry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours, because mold needs moisture to grow. If mold already shows, or covers more than 10 square feet, EPA says to treat it as a larger job. Find the water source, contain the area, remove damaged material, dry everything, then confirm the moisture is gone.](https://aes.multisites.ai/guides/mold-after-water-damage) - [Asbestos in older St. Louis homes: where it hides and what to doAsbestos can hide in floor tile, floor adhesive, siding, roof shingles, textured walls, pipe wrap, furnace parts and attic insulation. About 87% of St. Louis city housing units and 68% of St. Louis County units were built before 1980. The only way to know is a lab test from a certified inspector.](https://aes.multisites.ai/guides/asbestos-in-older-st-louis-homes) ## Request your custom environmental remediation estimate Contact us for a free environmental remediation or restoration estimate and a personalized solution to your problems. [Request a Quote](https://aes.multisites.ai/contact)[(314) 865-2662](tel:+1-314-865-2662)