Illinois PFAS regulations expand to protect public health, water quality

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), a group of human-made chemicals, are found in a wide range of consumer products and pose potential health risks to communities and residents. Known as forever chemicals, PFAS are stable and persistent in the environment. They don't easily break down under natural conditions and tend to accumulate in soil, water and the human body over time, posing health risks.

To address these risks, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted an integrated approach – the PFAS strategic roadmap – to prevent PFAS from entering the environment and accelerate the cleanup of PFAS contamination. Federal law requires community water systems take action to meet PFAS drinking water standards by April 26, 2029. Several states, including Illinois, have taken a proactive stance by developing and implementing PFAS-related health and groundwater standards.

Illinois continues to work toward comprehensive PFAS restrictions and has expanded the PFAS ban, targeting a wide range of consumer goods containing intentionally added PFAS. This blog post explains some recent Illinois PFAS regulations and how Fehr Graham can help communities comply with the regulations. 

​In April 2024, Illinois supported a proposed EPA rule to include nine PFAS analytes as hazardous substances under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

The state has been at the forefront of implementing PFAS regulations regarding drinking water standards and restrictions on PFAS usage.

The table below highlights some of the latest Illinois PFAS regulations.

Additionally, the Illinois Environmental Protection Act requires Community Water Systems (CWSs) to notify all end users if groundwater contamination poses a threat of exposure to the public above the Class I groundwater quality standards. Though the state PFAS groundwater quality standards are newly established, the Illinois EPA is still collecting PFAS monitoring data for every CWS in the state.

As of April 2025, the Illinois EPA notified seven CWSs that one or more forever chemicals were detected in the most recent water sampling at levels exceeding the latest groundwater quality standards. This shows the effective implementation of PFAS regulations across the state and encourages CWSs, private well owners and residents to be proactive in addressing potential PFAS contamination. 

At Fehr Graham, we are committed to helping Illinois communities protect their environment and residents' health by complying with PFAS regulations. Our team of licensed engineers develops custom, cost-effective and state-of-the-art water engineering solutions to ensure PFAS-free drinking water for your community.

We work closely with regulatory agencies to keep you updated on the rapidly evolving Illinois PFAS regulations and secure funding for system upgrades in CWSs. With Fehr Graham, you can be assured your drinking water is safe and adheres to local regulatory PFAS standards.