EPA Launches PFAS Out Initiative to Help Proactively Address PFAS in Drinking Water
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer launched a new initiative called PFAS OUTreach—or PFAS OUT. This new effort proactively works with communities and water systems to reduce exposure to PFOA and PFOS in drinking water, years ahead of compliance with federal regulatory requirements. The initiative is central to EPA's commitment to protecting Americans from PFAS contamination and advancing President Trump’s Make America Healthy Again agenda.
“Protecting Americans from exposure to PFAS in drinking water is a priority for EPA. That’s why I’m thrilled to launch the PFAS OUT initiative to help water systems accelerate actions to reduce exposure to PFOA and PFOS,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. “These contaminants are well studied, their health impacts are well understood. Through PFAS OUT, EPA will help protect public health by—for the very first time—proactively engaging with water systems, states, and other partners to address drinking water contamination.”
PFAS OUT is a proactive outreach initiative to provide information on resources, including funding and technical assistance, to drinking water systems with PFAS challenges. This outreach will provide practical, interactive location-specific resources, including webinars and information, on how to access funding and technical assistance to address PFAS.
EPA aims to directly engage about 3,000 drinking water systems nationwide that have known challenges with PFOA and PFOS, ensuring they are aware of the support available to them (approximately 2% of water systems). All water systems will be able to access PFASOUT resources and can secure technical assistance through EPA’s Real WaterTA.
Small, rural, and disadvantaged water systems often have fewer resources to navigate complex contamination challenges. PFAS OUT is specifically designed to ensure these communities are not left behind, helping every affected system reduce exposure now and position itself for full compliance with enforceable drinking water standards in the coming years.
This initiative reflects EPA's commitment to cooperative federalism, a core pillar of Administrator Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, by working hand-in-hand with states, utilities, and local partners to deliver durable, science-based solutions that protect public health.
This is just the latest action EPA is taking to ensure that all Americans can rely on safe drinking water. On April 2, 2026, the agency announced a landmark set of actions to safeguard the nation's drinking water from microplastics, pharmaceuticals, forever chemicals, and dozens of other contaminants—delivering on the Trump administration’s promise to Make America Healthy Again.
EPA released the draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List for public comment. This critical tool drives research, funding, and future decisions on regulating emerging threats in public water systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The draft CCL 6 includes four contaminant groups—microplastics, pharmaceuticals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and disinfection byproducts—as well as 75 chemicals and nine microbes that may be found in drinking water.