The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) has announced its publication of the PFAS MCL Rule in the January 14, 2023 Pennsylvania Bulletin. The rule became effective as of that date.
The new rule sets the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 14 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and an MCL of 18 ppt for PFOS in drinking water.
PADEP’s new PFAS MCL Rule webpage confirms that the rule applies to all public water systems in the Commonwealth, and that the monitoring requirements have been established for community water systems, nontransient noncommunity water systems, and bottled, vended, retail, and bulk systems (BVRBs). Initial monitoring will be required for 4 consecutive calendar quarters at each entry point (EP) to the distribution systems over the next year or two, depending on the type of system.
The new standards apply not only to public water systems, but also to environmental site cleanups, as these concentrations are also now adopted as new Statewide Health Standards for PFOA and PFOS in groundwater under Pennsylvania’s Act 2 regulations. This creates significant new considerations in Phase I Environmental Site Assessments in Pennsylvania, and may lead to more site owners seeking Act 2 cleanup liability protection in the future.
Brickhouse Environmental has been very active in the monitoring and evaluation of PFAS in groundwater, including source identification and migration studies. If you have questions on PFAS or how the new PFAS MCL Rule may affect your property, please contact David Farrington or one of our other Professional Geologists.
