EPA Stormwater Rule Puts PFAS in the Spotlight

A proposed EPA rule would make PFAS testing routine, raising costs and forcing industries to rethink pollution control

8 Jul 2025

A proposed rule from America’s Environmental Protection Agency is putting PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, firmly on industry’s radar. If finalised, it would require quarterly testing for PFAS in stormwater runoff at thousands of industrial sites starting in 2026. The rule marks a shift in regulatory focus, targeting pollutants before they enter treatment systems.

PFAS, often called “forever chemicals” because of their persistence, are linked to a range of health risks. The EPA’s new approach brings them into routine environmental monitoring for sectors as varied as logistics, aviation and manufacturing. Stormwater, once a regulatory afterthought, is now viewed as a primary pathway for PFAS discharge.

The response from industry has been rapid. Testing firms such as SGS and Eurofins report rising demand. Startups like FREDsense are hurrying to bring mobile testing kits to market. The financial implications are non-trivial, with compliance potentially costing each site thousands of dollars annually. Infrastructure upgrades are likely to follow.

“This is a significant shift in how industrial sites are regulated,” says one senior compliance advisor. “PFAS oversight is moving from niche concern to operational imperative.”

Not all firms are equally enthusiastic. While some see the rule as overdue, others argue it paints with too broad a brush. Low-risk facilities, they contend, should be exempted from such stringent monitoring. Yet the rule’s intention is clear: to reduce PFAS contamination at the source.

The proposed changes are part of the EPA’s revised Multi-Sector General Permit, a regulatory framework covering a wide range of industrial activities. The final version is expected by early 2026, leaving businesses limited time to prepare. Those that do not may face fines and operational delays.

Beyond compliance, the rule signals a deeper trend in environmental policy. Regulators are moving upstream, tackling pollutants not just where they accumulate but where they begin. The PFAS battle is now shifting to the factory floor and the storm drain.