Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS, are a group of manmade chemicals used for a wide variety of residential, commercial and industrial purposes including: nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabric and carpet, some food packaging and firefighting foam. In 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency established health advisory levels in drinking water for two types of PFAS - perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
On April 10, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule on drinking water standards for certain PFAS under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The Department supports EPA’s development of a nationwide drinking water standard for PFAS that applies to everyone. DoD has been preparing to implement the final rule for both our on-base DoD drinking water systems and within our cleanup program.
DoD remains committed to fulfilling our PFAS-related cleanup responsibilities and will take necessary actions to implement the rule, in accordance with the federal cleanup law, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
The DoD PFAS website (www.defense.gov/pfas) offers additional information about DoD’s actions to investigate and clean up PFAS resulting from DoD activities, DoD PFAS policies, DoD PFAS Task Force, DoD PFAS community outreach activities, and PFAS research and development efforts.