If your office is in a city with documented PFAS in its water supply, this proposal isn't good for you.
Earlier this week, the EPA announced two proposed rules related to PFAS in drinking water. One extends the compliance deadline for PFOA and PFOS from 2029 to 2031. The other rescinds drinking water regulations entirely for four additional PFAS: PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, and PFBS. The combined effect is that water utilities now have less time pressure on PFOA and PFOS, and no federal obligation at all to address the other four. For the roughly 30 million Americans served by water systems with PFAS concentrations exceeding limits for those four chemicals, the federal safety net just got smaller.
What PFAS are and why they matter.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals used for decades in nonstick cookware, food packaging, firefighting foam, and industrial applications. They are called forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment or in the human body. The EPA directly links PFAS exposure to cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, decreased fertility, liver damage, hormone disruption, and immune system damage.
According to EWG analysis of EPA testing data, approximately 176 million Americans drink tap water contaminated with PFAS, four million more than previous testing found. The contamination is getting more widespread, not less.
What the EPA actually announced.
The first proposed rule upholds the existing limits for PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion but gives water utilities the option to request two additional years to comply, pushing the deadline to 2031. The second proposed rule proposes to rescind drinking water regulations entirely for PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, and PFBS. EWG estimates as many as 30 million Americans are served by water systems with PFAS concentrations exceeding limits for those four chemicals. Those utilities no longer have a federal obligation to address them.
Is PFAS in your water right now?
Before anything else, it is worth knowing what is actually in your local water supply. EWG has two tools that make this easy. The EWG Tap Water Database lets you enter your ZIP code and see the most up-to-date information on PFAS and other contaminants in your community's water system, including which chemicals have been detected and at what concentrations. The EWG PFAS contamination map shows where forever chemicals have been detected across the country, including communities, military bases, and industrial facilities. It was updated with the EPA's most recent national PFAS testing data from March 2026.
Bottleless Nation serves businesses across 32 markets nationwide. If your office is in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Trenton, Louisville, Denver, Colorado Springs, Chicago, or any of our other markets, checking your ZIP code in the EWG database will show you exactly what your local water system is carrying.
Which BN markets are most affected.
PFAS contamination is documented across dozens of BN markets. According to the EWG Tap Water Database, several of the most significantly affected include:
Philadelphia, PA and Trenton, NJ
The Philadelphia Water Department serves 1.6 million people and has recorded 27 PFAS detections at or above EWG health guidelines. Communities in both the Philadelphia and Trenton markets have documented PFAS exposure tied to industrial and military sources.
Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, TX
Texas is among the states with the highest concentration of water systems with documented PFAS issues. The EWG Tap Water Database shows PFAS detections across multiple DFW and Houston-area utilities, with contamination linked to military installations and industrial facilities in the region.
Indianapolis, IN and Louisville, KY
Indiana and Kentucky water systems serving both BN markets have documented PFAS contamination, with military installations being a primary contributing source in both states.
Colorado Springs and Denver, CO
Colorado has significant PFAS contamination tied to firefighting foam used at military bases, with detections documented in water systems serving major population centers in both markets.
What you can do about it.
According to EWG's guidance published this week, reverse osmosis is one of the most effective filtration methods available for removing PFAS from drinking water. It pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane that separates particles from water molecules, cutting PFAS and other contaminants at the point of use. For businesses, that means purified water on demand before it ever reaches your team.
Waiting on federal regulation is not a water quality strategy. Yesterday's announcement changed what utilities are required to do about PFAS. It did not change what is actually in the water. Bottleless Nation's NSF 53, 58, and 61 certified purified water systems use reverse osmosis filtration to remove PFOA, PFOS, GenX, PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS, and a broad range of other PFAS, regardless of where the regulatory debate lands.
Bottleless Nation serves businesses across Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Trenton, Louisville, Denver, Colorado Springs, Chicago, and 22 other markets nationwide. One flat monthly rate, no plastic, and purified water that removes PFAS whether the EPA requires it or not.
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