"WASHINGTON — Communities across the US are struggling to cope with impending federal requirements for eradicating two toxic PFAS chemicals from their drinking water systems, utility leaders said at a water policy conference this week.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year announced a proposal to delay the deadline for utilities to comply with new regulation limiting toxic types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals in drinking water supplies. But even with the potential for a two-year cushion – compliance for meeting new standards may be pushed from 2029 to 2031 – utilities are faltering, industry experts said.

“I think a lot of utilities are feeling uncertain as to, if maybe not the levels, the timeline for compliance,” Mark White, who plans and upgrades water treatment facilities for the American engineering and construction company CDM Smith, said April 13 at a conference of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) water policy held in Washington, DC.

“Utilities are dealing with significant costs,” he added. “That’s at the same time utilities are also dealing with lead and aging infrastructure.”"

Shannon Kelleher reports for The New Lede April 16, 2026. [2]