As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reconsiders its regulations for PFAS chemicals—commonly known as “forever chemicals”—local water officials in Wood County, West Virginia, are watching closely. The changes include delaying compliance deadlines and potentially modifying some standards, but utility leaders say they are already ahead of the curve.
Parkersburg Utility Board Manager Eric Bennett said the primary PFAS threshold remains unchanged at 4 parts per trillion (ppt), which is the lowest detectable level with current technology. However, the EPA has pushed the compliance deadline back two years, from 2029 to 2031, allowing water systems more time to meet the standards.
While the rules aren’t yet finalized, they are heading into a public comment period before final adoption—likely sometime in late 2025 or early 2026, according to Bennett.
Despite the delay, Bennett confirmed that Parkersburg’s planned filtration system is already designed to address PFAS, including notorious compounds like C8 and GenX.
“We will continue to move forward,” Bennett said, adding that the current design of their filtration upgrades already meets or exceeds the proposed EPA limits.
Parkersburg’s Utility Board has a long history of testing for C8, a chemical formerly used in the production of Teflon at the Washington Works plant. The facility, once operated by DuPont and now managed by Chemours, has been the focus of environmental concerns for years.
Although DuPont and Chemours funded carbon filtration systems for several water utilities affected by C8 contamination, Parkersburg’s water did not reach contamination thresholds high enough to qualify for that support.
Even so, the city has proactively monitored for these substances to ensure public safety. The continued investment in new filtration systems is part of a broader push to future-proof the area’s water infrastructure.
Rocky McConnell, manager at Lubeck Public Service District, said he is withholding comment until he receives the official guidance and figures from the EPA. Those are expected by early June. McConnell emphasized the importance of having complete information before making any operational decisions or public statements.
Attempts to reach the Little Hocking Water Association for comment on how the EPA revisions might affect their system were unsuccessful as of Wednesday.
One particular point of concern among the regulations under review is GenX, a chemical introduced as a replacement for C8 but now also found in local water supplies. Though it was marketed as a safer alternative, GenX has raised new health questions and has become the subject of its own regulatory scrutiny.
The EPA’s reconsideration of GenX limits, along with the delayed enforcement of broader PFAS rules, has sparked conversations nationwide about balancing public health with the logistical challenges of compliance. Locally, though, Wood County officials appear to be taking a proactive stance.
With filtration systems already in progress and a history of voluntary testing, Parkersburg officials say they are staying focused on long-term water quality—regardless of regulatory shifts.
As Bennett puts it, “Our goal is to ensure safe, clean water for the community. That commitment doesn’t change with timelines.”
The EPA’s proposed revisions are part of a growing national effort to manage the risks of PFAS chemicals, which are linked to a range of health issues, including cancer, liver damage, and reproductive problems. Given their persistence in the environment and in human bodies, PFAS have become one of the top environmental health concerns in recent years.
Wood County’s proactive response may offer a blueprint for other communities facing similar challenges—proving that waiting on regulations isn’t the only option when public health is on the line.
