PFAS in drinking water standards

Environmental Rules Review Committee approves and advances PFAS in drinking water standards

NORTHERN MICHIGAN – The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) today announced that the state’s Environmental Rules Review Committee (ERRC) approved draft rules limiting PFAS contamination in drinking water, moving them forward in the state rule-making process.

Eight ERRC members voted in favor of the rules with two members abstaining from the vote.

“Governor Whitmer has made clean drinking water for all Michiganders a top priority in this administration and EGLE would like to thank the members of the ERRC for moving these important drinking water standards forward,” EGLE Director Liesl Clark said. “The ERRC represents both environmental and business stakeholders and today’s vote shows there is broad support for rules that protect Michiganders from contaminants in their drinking water.”

The draft rules and supporting documents will be forwarded to the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR), and then on to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). A final rule could be adopted in April 2020.

The proposed rules will amend current rules to provide provisions that reduce exposure to seven PFAS compounds in drinking water. The provisions include establishing drinking water standards, sampling requirements, public notification requirements, and laboratory certification criteria. The seven PFAS limits covered under the proposed rules are:

After going through a lengthy stakeholder review process, EGLE provided the draft rules to the ERRC in October. Approximately 2,700 water supplies in Michigan will be covered under the new rules.

In November, the ERRC voted to move forward with the public hearing process. The public comment period for the draft rules opened in December and concluded on January 31.

ERRC and the draft rule can be found online.

Known to scientists as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS are a group of emerging and potentially harmful contaminants used in thousands of applications globally including firefighting foam, food packaging, and many other consumer products. These compounds also are used by industries such as tanneries, metal platers and clothing manufacturers.

MPART website.