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Massachusetts PFAS Drinking Water Standard (MCL)

Information on MassDEP's efforts to establish a drinking water standard for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

Massachusetts PFAS Standard for Public Drinking Water Supplies

On October 2, 2020, MassDEP published its public drinking water standard or Massachusetts Maximum Contaminant Level (MMCL) of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L), or parts per trillion (ppt) for a group of six Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

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Massachusetts PFAS Standard for Public Drinking Water Supplies

On October 2, 2020, MassDEP published its PFAS public drinking water standard or Massachusetts Maximum Contaminant Level (MMCL) of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L), or parts per trillion (ppt) applicable to community (COM) and non-transient non-community (NTNC) systems for the sum of the concentrations of six specific PFAS. The six PFAS are: perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS); perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS); perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA); perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA); and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA). MassDEP abbreviates this set of six PFAS as “PFAS6.” This drinking water standard is set to be protective against adverse health effects for all people consuming the water. 

Additional information on the MassDEP public drinking water standard:

Open PDF file, 273.41 KB,  PFAS MCL revisions to 310 CMR 22.00 - clean version 9-16-2020 (English, PDF 273.41 KB)
Open PDF file, 358.19 KB,  PFAS MCL revisions to 310 CMR 22.00 - redline version 9-16-2020 (English, PDF 358.19 KB)
Open PDF file, 1.14 MB,  MassDEP Response to Comments: Proposed PFAS Drinking Water Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) (English, PDF 1.14 MB)
Open PDF file, 20.09 MB,  PFAS MCL revisions to 310 CMR 22.00 - comments received after January 2020 public hearing, set 1 (English, PDF 20.09 MB)
Open PDF file, 245.27 KB,  PFAS MCL revisions to 310 CMR 22.00 - comments received after January 2020 public hearing, set 2 (English, PDF 245.27 KB)
Open PDF file, 6.39 MB,  PFAS MCL revisions to 310 CMR 22.00 - Action Network comments (English, PDF 6.39 MB)
Open PDF file, 25.13 MB,  PFAS MCL revisions to 310 CMR 22.00 - comments received from MWWA members (English, PDF 25.13 MB)
Open PDF file, 287.83 KB,  Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Drinking Water Regulations Quick Reference Guide (English, PDF 287.83 KB)

Information for PWS regarding Compliance with the MCL

Massachusetts PFAS Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) Amendments & Public Comment

PFAS Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) Proposed Amendments & Public Comment 

MassDEP has filed proposed regulatory changes with the Secretary of State for formal notice and publication in the Massachusetts Register. MassDEP will being accepting public comments starting December 27, 2019.

Massachusetts Stakeholders Meeting #2 - June 20, 2019

Open PDF file, 1.42 MB,  Presentation to PFAS Stakeholder Group Meeting, June 20, 2019 (English, PDF 1.42 MB)
Open PDF file, 204.85 KB,  Agenda for PFAS MCL Stakeholder Group Meeting #2 (English, PDF 204.85 KB)

Agenda for PFAS MCL Stakeholder Group Meeting #2 on June 20, 2019

Open PDF file, 228.72 KB,  Questions for Discussion at June 20, 2019 PFAS MCL Stakeholders Meeting (English, PDF 228.72 KB)

Open PDF file, 168.61 KB,  Glossary of Drinking Water Regulatory Terms (English, PDF 168.61 KB)

Glossary of regulatory terms for PFAS MCL stakeholders meeting. June 2019.

Open PDF file, 266.02 KB,  Glossary of Waste Site Cleanup Terms (English, PDF 266.02 KB)

List of common terms and their definitions used in the Massachusetts DEP's Waste Site Cleanup Program

Common Environmental Regulation Acronyms, Abbreviations and Initializations 
Video on MassDEP's YouTube channel 

Link to the video of the June 20, 2019 meeting,

Massachusetts Stakeholders Meeting #1 - April 11, 2019

Open PDF file, 691.23 KB,  Presentation to PFAS Stakeholder Group Meeting on Drinking Water Standard development (English, PDF 691.23 KB)
Open PDF file, 203.38 KB,  Agenda for PFAS MCL Stakeholder Group Meeting #1 (English, PDF 203.38 KB)
Open PDF file, 219.88 KB,  Invitation to MassDEP Drinking Water PFAS MCL Stakeholder Group (English, PDF 219.88 KB)
Open PDF file, 123.76 KB,  Notice of MassDEP Drinking Water Program PFAS MCL Stakeholder engagement process (English, PDF 123.76 KB)
Open PDF file, 180.49 KB,  Drinking Water Program PFAS MCL Stakeholder Invited Members List (English, PDF 180.49 KB)
Video on MassDEP's YouTube channel. 

Link to the video of the entire April 11, 2019 meeting, available as a 7-part playlist on MassDEP's YouTube channel.

Massachusetts October 2018 Petition to Establish a Treatment Technique Drinking Water Standard

Open PDF file, 444.28 KB,  MassDEP Presentation at PFAS Public Meeting (English, PDF 444.28 KB)
Open PDF file, 1.13 MB,  Conservation Law Foundation Presentation at PFAS Public Meeting (English, PDF 1.13 MB)
Open PDF file, 839.82 KB,  Toxics Action Center Presentation at PFAS Public Meeting (English, PDF 839.82 KB)
Open PDF file, 4.83 MB,  Public comments received on PFAS petition as of 1-17-2019 (English, PDF 4.83 MB)
Open PDF file, 866.88 KB,  MassDEP Action on Petition to Establish a Treatment Technique Drinking Water Standard (English, PDF 866.88 KB)
Video of January 16, 2019 meeting on PFAS petition 

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