Group A Public Water Supplies - PFAS Drinking Water Standard

Chapter 246-290 WAC, Group A Public Water Supplies, establishes standards and requirements for Group A public water systems to help assure safe and reliable drinking water and to protect public health.

Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050RCW 70A.125, and RCW 70A.130
State Board of Health Contact: Shay Bauman
, 564-669-8929
State Department of Health Contact: 
Jocelyn Jones, 360-236-3020

On October 13, 2021, the Board adopted amendments to chapter 246-290 WAC. In concurrent action, the Board adopted amendments to chapter 246-390 WAC, Drinking Water Laboratory Certification and Data Reporting. Among other features, the amended rules establish:

  • drinking water standards for five per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as State Action Levels (SALs);
  • requirements for monitoring, recordkeeping, reporting, and other follow-up actions;
  • criteria and procedures for adopting SALs and state Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs); and
  • laboratory analytical and reporting requirements that align the two rules.

The revised rules took effect January 1, 2022, and are administered by the Washington Department of Health (Department).

There currently are no national drinking water MCLs for PFAS. In March 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for PFAS. The Board and Department both submitted comments in support of the proposed PFAS drinking water standards. The agencies are monitoring events to determine possible future rulemaking.

CR-101 filed on December 15, 2017 as WSR 18-01-080
CR-102 filed on August 3, 2021 as 
WSR 21-16-095
CR-103 filed on November 17, 2021 as 
WSR 21-23-097

 

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