In April 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The regulation established Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (also known as GenX chemicals) as individual contaminants, and will regulate PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and PFBS as a mixture through a Hazard Index. MCLs are enforceable maximum regulatory levels of a compound allowed in drinking water. The rule is expected to reduce PFAS exposure in drinking water for millions of people, preventing thousands of deaths and significantly lowering the incidence of PFAS-related illnesses.
The rule requires:
- Public water systems (PWSs) to monitor for these six PFAS. Systems have three years to complete initial monitoring (by 2027), followed by ongoing compliance monitoring. Water systems must also provide the public with information on the levels of these PFAS in their drinking water beginning in 2027. Link to Monitoring Fact Sheet.
- Public water systems have five years (by 2029) to implement solutions that reduce these PFAS if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed these MCLs.
- Beginning in five years (2029), public water systems that have PFAS in drinking water that violate one or more of these MCLs must take action to reduce levels of these PFAS in their drinking water and must provide notification to the public of the violation.
Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Program
Funded by U.S. EPA, NMED established the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities program (ECP). ECP focuses on the statewide assessment of emerging contaminants by developing sampling protocols, collaborating with public water systems (PWSs) to conduct sampling, and providing outreach and education.
The mission of ECP for the current grant is to assist Public Water Systems (PWSs) by:
- Investigating the presence of regulated PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water and source water within small or disadvantaged communities, with a target completion date of April 26, 2027.
- Providing PWSs with educational materials and communication tools to help them inform and engage the communities they serve.
ECP has determined that approximately 650 PWSs in New Mexico qualify to receive services from ECP. Interested PWSs that meet the criteria of small or disadvantaged can opt into program by filling out this form.
ECP Eligibility Criteria:
- Public water systems serving 10,000 connections or less; and/or
- Disadvantaged water systems in New Mexico are communities where the median household income (MHI) falls below the state MHI, based on the most recent 5-year average from census data.
If you have questions about Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities program, please send your questions to emergingcontam.sdc@state.nm.us.
Quality Assurance and Sampling Protocols
- ECP Quality Management Plan
- ECP Quality Assurance Project Plan
- ECP Sampling Standard Operating Procedure
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