Key takeaways
- EPA's 2024 rule set enforceable limits of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS in public drinking water, with compliance due in 2029.
- In May 2026, EPA proposed keeping those two limits but letting water systems apply for an extension to April 26, 2031, and proposed rescinding the limits for four other PFAS. As of early November 2026 both are still proposals.
- If you are on public water, your utility's annual water quality report is the place to look. Private wells are not covered by these rules, so testing is up to you.
- Under-sink reverse osmosis and carbon filters certified to NSF/ANSI 58 or 53 for PFOA and PFOS reduction are proven options. Boiling water does not remove PFAS.
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a large family of man-made chemicals used since the 1940s in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant carpet and fabric, water-repellent clothing, food packaging and firefighting foam. They earned the nickname "forever chemicals" because they break down extremely slowly, in the environment and in the body. EPA has linked long-term exposure to certain PFAS with harm to the immune system, development, the liver and thyroid, and some cancers.
Drinking water is one of the ways PFAS reach people, and the federal rules for it have changed more than once in the last two years. Here is where things stand in November 2026, and what Lake Country homeowners can actually do.
Where the federal rules stand
In April 2024, EPA finalized the first national drinking water standards for PFAS. The rule set enforceable limits of 4.0 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, the two most studied PFAS, and limits of 10 parts per trillion for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA (often called GenX), plus a combined limit for mixtures. Public water systems were given until 2027 to finish initial monitoring and until April 26, 2029 to meet the limits.
On May 18, 2026, EPA announced two proposals that would change that rule:
- A compliance extension. The 4 parts per trillion limits for PFOA and PFOS would stay, but water systems could apply for up to two more years, moving their deadline to April 26, 2031. The extension would not be automatic. Systems would have to apply and meet EPA's criteria, and those that do not would stay on the 2029 deadline.
- A rescission. EPA proposed removing the limits for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and the mixture standard, arguing that the 2024 rule skipped required steps in the Safe Drinking Water Act. If finalized, water systems would no longer have to monitor or treat for those four under the federal rule.
The public comment period closed July 20, 2026. As of early November 2026, both changes are still proposals, and court challenges to the 2024 rule are ongoing. Until EPA publishes a final rule, the 2024 standards and the 2029 deadline remain the law.
How to read a PFAS result
PFAS results are usually reported in parts per trillion (ppt), which is the same as nanograms per liter (ng/L). The amounts are tiny. Four parts per trillion is roughly four drops of water spread across twenty Olympic-size swimming pools. That is why testing takes specialized labs and why results near the limit can bounce around from one sample to the next. When you read a report, look for the specific compounds tested, the amount found, the reporting limit, and how many samples were taken. A single low result is reassuring. A single high result is worth confirming with a second sample before you make a big decision.
If you are on city or county water
Your water utility is responsible for testing and treatment, and you have a right to see the results. Every community water system publishes an annual water quality report, also called a Consumer Confidence Report, usually by July 1. As PFAS monitoring results come in, they will show up there. Many utilities also sampled for 29 PFAS between 2023 and 2025 under EPA's fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, and those results are public.
The simplest step is to call your utility and ask: have you tested for PFAS, what did you find, and what is your plan? In Putnam County that may be the Eatonton-Putnam Water and Sewer Authority. Some lake communities are served by private water companies, which are subject to the same drinking water rules. A result below 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS is within the federal limit. If your utility reports results above that, a certified point-of-use filter is a reasonable step while the utility works on treatment.
If you are on a private well
Federal drinking water rules apply to public water systems, not private wells. If your home runs on a well, as many do around Lake Oconee and in rural Putnam and Greene counties, testing is up to you. PFAS testing requires a laboratory certified for the specific EPA methods, and it costs more than a routine bacteria or nitrate test. Your county UGA Extension office can point you toward water testing options and help you read the results.
Most wells in our area have never been tested for PFAS, and many are fine. The risk tends to be higher near places where PFAS were used heavily, such as sites with a history of firefighting foam, some industrial operations, and fields where certain sludge-based fertilizers were applied. While you are thinking about water quality, have the well system itself checked. A well pump service visit covers the pump, pressure tank, switch and well cap, which keeps surface water and insects out of the well in the first place.
Home treatment that actually works
Not every filter removes PFAS. Look for products certified by an independent lab for PFOA and PFOS reduction under these standards:
- NSF/ANSI 58, reverse osmosis. An under-sink RO system pushes water through a very fine membrane and is one of the most effective ways to reduce PFAS at the kitchen tap. It needs space under the sink, a drain connection, and a small storage tank in most designs.
- NSF/ANSI 53, activated carbon. Certified carbon filters, under the sink or on the refrigerator line, can also reduce PFOA and PFOS. Performance depends on changing the cartridge on schedule.
- Whole-house carbon systems. For homes that want treated water at every tap, a larger carbon system can be installed where water enters the house. These need correct sizing and regular media replacement.
Two things that do not work: boiling water, which can actually concentrate PFAS, and water softeners, which are designed for hardness, not chemicals. Any filter that is not maintained eventually stops working, so set a reminder for cartridge changes.
Our team handles reverse osmosis and water filtration installation, including the drain connection, the dedicated faucet and the line to your refrigerator's ice maker.
Questions to ask before you buy a filter
- Is this exact model certified for PFOA and PFOS reduction, and by which independent lab?
- How many gallons is each cartridge or membrane rated for, and what does a replacement cost?
- Does it need a drain connection, electricity or a storage tank, and will it fit under my sink?
- Can it also feed my refrigerator's water and ice maker?
- Who will change the filters, and how will I know when it is time?
The right answer for a family on public water with low results is often a single certified under-sink system. A home on a well with confirmed PFAS may need more, and the test results should drive that decision.
The plumbing between the main and your glass
Water quality is not only about what the utility sends. A cross-connection, such as a garden hose sitting in a bucket of fertilizer or an irrigation system without protection, can pull contaminated water back into your pipes when pressure drops. Proper backflow prevention keeps that from happening, and many systems require annual testing.
Old pipes matter too. Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, utilities must inventory every service line by November 1, 2027 and replace lead and certain galvanized lines over the following 10 years. If your service line is old, a water service line replacement can take care of the part on your side. Inside the house, aging galvanized pipe can release rust and trap sediment, and repiping with modern materials is often the cleanest fix. Our guide to plumbing hazards covers other risks to watch for.
For businesses, rentals and lake houses
Restaurants, offices, churches and rental properties often want filtered water at more than one location, plus ice machines and coffee equipment on treated lines. Our commercial plumbing team can design a system that is easy to maintain. If you own a lake house on a well and rent it out, testing and certified filtration are a smart part of being a good host. Our Lake Oconee plumbing customers often handle it during a fall service visit.
Getting good advice
PFAS is a field full of marketing claims. Before you buy, check the certification, ask what the filter is certified to reduce, and ask what maintenance costs over five years. Best Plumbers is a solid source for plumbing guides on water quality and for finding trusted plumbers who install treatment systems.
If you are in Eatonton, around Lake Oconee or nearby, call (706) 612-5425 or request a free estimate below. We will talk through your test results, your water source and the options that fit your home.
