Water Protection Program fact sheet
Division of Environmental Quality Director: Kyra Moore
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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of manmade fluorinated chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their ability to repel both water and oil. These chemicals can be found in products such as non-stick cookware, carpet, clothing, furniture fabrics, waxes, cleaning products, some firefighting foams and in industrial applications. Many PFAS break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals and the environment over time.

Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. There are thousands of different PFAS, the three most studied being perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon). PFOA and PFOS are two of the most widely used. Industries in the United States recently replaced PFOA with GenX chemicals and PFOS with perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS). GenX and PFBS are PFAS and share similar chemical and physical characteristics to PFOA and PFOS.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Action's

On June 15, 2022, EPA released drinking water health advisory levels for four PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, GenX and PFBS. While these health advisories are non-enforceable and non-regulatory, they provide information on levels that can cause human health effects if exposed over one’s entire lifetime. Health advisory levels also take into account exposures through sources other than drinking water. 

Drinking Water Health Advisory Levels
PFAS Interim or Final Health Advisory Level Concentration in Drinking Water (ppt)1
PFOA Interim Updated 0.004
PFOS Interim Updated 0.02
GenX Final 10
PFBS Final 2,000

1Current analytical detection limits for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water are well above the health advisory levels issued by EPA.

EPA announced it will release a draft drinking water rule with proposed regulatory standards (maximum contaminant levels, or MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS by fall 2022. EPA proposed finalizing this rule and releasing a timeline for implementation by fall 2023. Generally, once a rule is finalized systems are given three years to come into compliance. At this time, there are no federal MCLs for PFOA, PFOS, GenX or PFBS in drinking water. For more information about what EPA is doing to address PFAS, review PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA's Commitments to Action 2021-2024.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Actions

Drinking Water Monitoring

Since 2013, the department has performed PFAS occurrence monitoring projects for public drinking water supplies through federal and voluntary sampling programs. To date, these sampling efforts represent public water supplies that serve more than 76% of Missouri’s population. The department is continuing efforts to characterize the extent of PFAS contamination at public water systems in Missouri. The department developed a public-facing interactive map viewer that shows the PFAS data collected to date.

This year, Missouri will be allotted approximately $237 million to distribute for Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund projects, including funds for specific projects like treating emerging contaminants such as PFAS. The department will detail program eligibilities and offerings in the Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF Intended Use Plans, which will be finalized in October 2022. Applications for new funds will be due March 1, 2023. 

Wastewater and Stormwater Permitting

Beginning in 2022, the department began a voluntary PFAS sampling program for facilities renewing existing wastewater or stormwater permits. The intent of this program is to help facilities that potentially have PFAS in their effluent, have data in place once EPA issues regulatory standards for PFAS chemicals in wastewater. 

PFAS Inventory

EPA offered to use federal funds to prepare an inventory of potential PFAS sites across Missouri. The department is currently coordinating with EPA. When it begins, the inventory may take up to a year to complete.

Resources

Nothing in this document may be used to implement any enforcement action or levy any penalty unless promulgated by rule under chapter 536 or authorized by statute.

For more information