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Levittown and the EPA PFAS Drinking Water Limits: What Homeowners Should Know

By Phountain Media Outlet Updated

Glass of tap water on a kitchen counter in a Long Island home with a whole-house PFAS water filter system

Key Takeaways

  • In April 2024, the EPA finalized the first national drinking water limits for PFAS, including 4 parts per trillion (ppt) each for PFOA and PFOS. Public water systems must comply by 2029.
  • New York has had its own limits of 10 ppt for PFOA and PFOS since 2020; until 2029, those state limits apply alongside the federal rule.
  • Neither the federal nor the state limits cover private wells. Private well owners are responsible for testing their own water.
  • Your public water supplier’s annual water quality report lists the regulated contaminants it found.

What Are PFAS—and Why Are They Everywhere?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of synthetic chemicals valued for their resistance to heat, oil, water, and grease. They’ve been used in everyday products for decades:

  • Nonstick Cookware: The coating that makes pans easy to clean.
  • Water-Repellent Fabrics: Jackets, carpets, and upholstery treatments.
  • Food Packaging: Some grease-resistant food packaging.

Their chemical bonds are extremely stable. That stability is the reason they’re called “forever chemicals”—they break down very slowly in the environment.

The EPA’s April 2024 PFAS Rule: What Changed

In April 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized the first-ever National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for PFAS. It sets legally enforceable maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) of 4.0 ppt each for PFOA and PFOS; 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA (known as GenX); and a hazard-index limit for mixtures of certain PFAS. Public water systems must comply by 2029.

The EPA also set a health goal, called a maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG), of zero for PFOA and PFOS. Unlike the MCLs, MCLGs are not enforceable limits.

Update: In May 2026, after this article was first published, the EPA proposed letting water systems request two more years (to 2031) to meet the PFOA and PFOS limits, and proposed rescinding the limits for PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, and the mixture hazard index. Those proposals were not final as of September 2026.

New York’s Own Limits

In 2020, New York set its own MCLs of 10 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, and 1 part per billion for 1,4-dioxane. Until 2029, public water systems in the state must still meet the 10 ppt state limits alongside the federal rule, and they must monitor for PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-dioxane on a regular schedule (NYSDOH).

Neither the federal nor the state limits apply to private wells. If your home is on a private well, you are responsible for testing your own water (EPA).

Have questions about your Levittown home’s water? Request a free in-home water test.

What the Limits Mean for Levittown Homes

Public water systems must meet New York’s 10 ppt limits for PFOA and PFOS now and the federal limits by 2029. To see how your own supplier is doing, read its annual water quality report, which lists the regulated contaminants it found.

Bottled Water and Point-of-Use Filters

Bottled water is one option people consider, but it’s a partial answer:

  • Bottled Water Only Covers Drinking: Cooking, brushing teeth, and washing produce still use tap water.
  • Ongoing Cost and Waste: Bottles have to be bought, carried, stored, and thrown away or recycled.

Some point-of-use filters are certified under NSF/ANSI standards for PFOA/PFOS reduction; check the listing for the exact model. A point-of-use filter treats water at one tap, while a whole-house system treats water where it enters the home.

Where a Whole-House System Fits

The pHountain Filtration System is a whole-home (point-of-entry) system with a cartridge-free media design intended to reduce common impurities in tap water. It is installed at your home’s main water entry point, so water used for drinking, cooking, bathing, and laundry passes through it before reaching any fixture or appliance. It is recommended after a free in-home water test, professionally installed, and backed by a 10-year guarantee.

A whole-home system is configured around what testing finds. For any specific contaminant, ask for independent certification data (for example NSF/ANSI listings) for the exact system you are considering.

For more on local coverage, see our Levittown service-area page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the EPA PFAS rule mean for my tap water?

Public water systems must meet the EPA’s 2024 limits, including 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, by 2029. In May 2026 the EPA proposed letting systems request two more years for PFOA and PFOS; that proposal was not final as of September 2026. Meanwhile, New York’s limits of 10 ppt for PFOA and PFOS have applied to public water systems since 2020. Your supplier’s annual water quality report shows its results.

Does a whole-house filter remove PFAS?

It depends on the specific system. Before relying on any filter for PFAS, whole-house or point-of-use, check its independent certification (for example an NSF/ANSI listing for PFOA/PFOS reduction) for that exact model, and compare it with what testing shows about your water.

Is Levittown tap water safe to drink?

Public water suppliers must meet federal and state drinking water limits, including New York’s 10 ppt limits for PFOA and PFOS. Your supplier’s annual water quality report lists the regulated contaminants it found. If your home is on a private well, testing it is your responsibility.

How do I know if PFAS is in my home’s water?

If you are on public water, start with your supplier’s annual water quality report. Measuring PFAS and 1,4-dioxane at the levels regulators use (parts per trillion and parts per billion) requires analysis by a certified laboratory; a free in-home water test is a starting point for understanding your water and your options.

Do you offer free water testing?

Yes. pHountain offers free in-home water testing with no obligation.

Want to understand your Levittown home’s water and your options? Request a free in-home water test or call (631) 991-3995.

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