New water quality guidance values for PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-Dioxane were released by the NYSDEC for public review on October 6, 2021. The public comment period has been extended to December 6, 2021.
These strict guidance values for contaminants in groundwater and surface water aim to protect sources of drinking water. This action supports the State’s continued efforts to address these emerging contaminants in New York waters.
The New York State Department of Health (DOH) Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) were adopted in August 2020 and are displayed for informational purposes. The DEC Raw Water Source values are below the DOH’s MCLs to provide an extra margin of safety. 
These draft guidance values would be included in a 2021 addendum to the June 1998 Division of Water Technical and Operational Guidance Series (TOGS) No. 1.1.1: Ambient Water Quality Standards and Guidance Values and Groundwater Effluent Limitations. TOGS No. 1.1.1 provides a compilation of guidance values and effluent limitations for use where there are no standards or regulatory effluent limitations.
Two additional TOGS documents are currently available for public comment. Draft revisions of TOGS 1.3.7: Analytical Detectability and Quantitation Guidelines for Selected Environmental Parameters will guide the selection of analytical testing methods where approved methods are limited or unavailable. New draft TOGS 1.3.13: Permitting Strategy for Implementing Guidance Values for PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-Dioxane will establish how guidance values will be applied to SPDES permits to optimize environmental protection and minimize financial impacts.
These efforts aim at addressing PFAS at its source and preventing it from being released into the environment.
See Walden’s other blogs on PFAS:
EPA Publishes Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for PFAS
New York State Releases Guidance on PFAS Sampling, Analysis, and Assessment
States Starting to Roll Out MCLs for 1,4-Dioxane and PFAS in Drinking Water
Regulatory Update: EPA Announces Plan to Deal with PFAS
Walden’s environmental professionals have been tracking regulatory developments related to emerging contaminants. If you have questions about the DEC’s PFAS and 1,4-Dioxane guidance, please contact Walden today!