On Mar. 27, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released data that shows an additional 15 million Americans have drinking water contaminated by the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. It brings the total number of people at risk of drinking this contaminated tap water to more than 158 million across the U.S.

The findings come from tests of the nation’s drinking water supply conducted as part of the EPA’s Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, or UCMR 5, which requires U.S. water utilities to test drinking water for 29 individual PFAS compounds. 

This round of data confirmed the presence of one or more PFAS compounds at 2,719 locations. Adding these 15 million people to previously collected UCMR and state data shows a total of over 158 million Americans face the risk of drinking PFAS-contaminated water. The EPA was expected to release more UCMR 5 results in the coming months.

In 2024, the EPA finalized first-time limits on six PFAS in drinking water, which will help tackle forever chemicals contamination – but these standards are now at risk.

Reversing or weakening the drinking water standards for six PFAS – as many supporters of President Donald Trump have proposed – could leave nearly 53 million people without protection from these toxic chemicals, according to EWG’s analysis of results reported so far.