USEPA Approves Illinois Enforcement of Federal PFAS Drinking Water Rule
On September 30, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) tentatively approved primary enforcement authority (primacy) to Illinois’s Public Water System Supervision Program adopting the federal PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. USEPA determined that the state program is no less stringent than the corresponding federal requirements. Once final, the approval will give the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency primary responsibility for enforcing the federal PFAS drinking water rule for public water systems in the state. Illinois is the first state to receive this designation. Interested parties may request a public hearing through October 30, 2026. If USEPA Region 5 does not receive a timely, substantial hearing request and does not elect to hold a hearing, the approval will become final and effective on October 30, 2026, without further public notice.
Illinois Requires PFAS Monitoring for Wastewater and Biosolids
On July 31, 2026, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed Illinois Public Act 104-0747 into law. The law establishes PFAS sampling and permitting requirements for wastewater discharges and land-applied sludge and biosolids beginning January 1, 2027. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for publicly owned treatment works and privately owned sewage treatment works designated as major facilities by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and USEPA must require periodic sampling of influent, effluent, and biosolids. Other designated major industrial facilities must periodically sample effluent. NPDES permit applications for wastewater discharges that may contain PFAS must characterize the discharge using all PFAS for which accredited wastewater analytical methods are available. Applications for permits authorizing land application of sludge or biosolids must include PFAS sampling results, and issued permits must require periodic sampling. After two consecutive years without PFAS detections above minimum quantification levels, permittees may request a permit modification to reduce sampling frequency, subject to state approval. The law does not establish numerical PFAS discharge or biosolids concentration limits.
California Enacts PFAS Pesticide Reporting and Disclosure Requirements
On September 27, 2026, California Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1603 into law, requiring the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to identify registered pesticide products containing PFAS ingredients and track associated pesticide-use trends. The law defines PFAS as “a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.” By January 1, 2028, or when 2026 pesticide-use data are to be posted, whichever occurs first, DPR must identify PFAS active ingredients in the state’s Pesticide Use Reporting database and publish a list of registered products containing those ingredients. DPR must also send the product list to county agricultural commissioners and update it annually. For pesticide products registered after the initial list is published, DPR must identify products containing PFAS within 60 days of registration. The law establishes public reporting and disclosure requirements but does not prohibit the registration, sale, or use of pesticides containing PFAS.
Study Finds TFA in New Jersey Drinking Water and Bottled Beverages
On October 13, 2026, the New Jersey Institute of Technology published a study that evaluated five ultra-short-chain PFAS, including trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), in 70 New Jersey tap-water samples and 43 commercially available bottled beverages. TFA was detected in 64 tap-water samples and 34 bottled beverages. Among tap-water samples with detectable TFA, the median concentration was 352 nanograms per liter (ng/L), and concentrations ranged from 74 to 1,360 ng/L. The 12 formulated beverages analyzed had a mean TFA concentration of 15,400 ng/L, approximately 52 times the mean of 295 ng/L measured in 31 plain bottled water samples. The researchers did not determine the source of the higher concentrations in formulated beverages. The study notes that ultra-short-chain PFAS require specialized analytical methods and that TFA may be difficult to remove using conventional PFAS treatment technologies. The researchers recommended expanded monitoring to characterize occurrence, sources, and temporal variability of ultra-short-chain PFAS.
European Union Implements PFHxA Restrictions for Apparel and Footwear
On October 10, 2026, restrictions under the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation took effect for perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts, and PFHxA-related substances. The restrictions prohibit concentrations equal to or greater than 25 parts per billion (ppb) for the sum of PFHxA and its salts, or 1,000 ppb for the sum of PFHxA-related substances in homogeneous materials used in clothing, related accessories, and footwear for the general public. PFHxA-related substances include compounds considered capable of degrading or transforming into PFHxA based on their molecular structure. The restrictions do not apply to products placed on the market before October 10, 2026, and exclude specified products, including certain personal protective equipment. Beginning October 10, 2027, the same limits will apply to additional textiles, leather, furs, and hides. The regulation does not prescribe a specific analytical method for determining compliance.
RemTEC & Emerging Contaminants Summit
Mark your calendars! The RemTEC & Emerging Contaminants Summit is heading to Rosemont, Illinois, from April 13 to 15, 2027. Abstracts for the event can be submitted online until September 21, 2026. The RemTEC & Emerging Contaminants Summit brings together leaders from academia, consulting, industry, regulatory agencies, and government to address pressing challenges in environmental science, remediation technology, and emerging contaminants.
Questions?
If you have any questions or would like to discuss how PFAS may impact your business, please email pfas@geosyntec.com to be connected with one of our PFAS technical experts.
