Nyack, NY – Rockland County officials, environmental advocates and residents gathered at Memorial Park in Nyack on Tuesday, Sept. 22, to urge Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign legislation establishing stricter New York drinking water standards for several types of PFAS, a group of long-lasting chemicals that have been detected in water supplies across the state and nation.
The legislation, S.3207-B/A.8634-B, passed both houses of the New York State Legislature earlier this year. The measure would establish maximum contaminant levels of no more than 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS and no more than 10 parts per trillion for PFNA, PFHxS and HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX chemicals. State legislative records show the Senate approved the measure 60-0 on May 28, and the Assembly passed it on June 3.
Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson and Assemblymember Patrick Carroll were among those participating in Tuesday’s event. Representatives of Environmental Advocates NY, the Rockland Water Coalition, Riverkeeper and the NAACP also attended. Supporters are asking Hochul to sign the legislation so the proposed limits become part of state law.
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a large family of synthetic chemicals that have been used in consumer and industrial products for decades. They are often called “forever chemicals” because many are highly persistent and can remain in the environment for long periods. Research has associated exposure to certain PFAS with a range of potential health effects.
New York currently limits PFOA and PFOS in public drinking water to 10 parts per trillion. The state adopted those standards in 2020. Public water systems are required to test for the chemicals and, when confirmed levels exceed state limits, notify health officials and customers and develop plans to bring the systems into compliance.
The issue has particular relevance in Rockland County. State records show PFAS-related violations were reported at several Rockland water systems during 2025, with the state listing those violations as either corrected or no longer in violation. Rockland’s public water systems already conduct PFAS testing under existing state requirements.
Nyack has also been addressing PFAS in its municipal water system. In July, the village authorized bonding as part of a water-system improvement project that includes PFAS and PFOA treatment at the Nyack Water Plant. Village records place the authorized borrowing for broader water-system improvements at up to $13.16 million.
The state debate comes as federal PFAS regulations are undergoing changes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is retaining the federal maximum contaminant levels of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS. In May, however, the EPA proposed allowing qualifying public water systems additional time, potentially until 2031, to meet those requirements.
Separately, the EPA has proposed rescinding federal drinking water regulations for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX chemicals, along with a hazard-index requirement covering mixtures of several PFAS compounds. The agency says the proposal is intended to address what it considers procedural problems in how those regulations were established. The proposal does not itself eliminate the existing PFOA and PFOS limits.
If signed, the New York legislation would establish the specified PFAS limits under state law, leaving those standards in place independently of future changes to federal requirements. As of Sept. 23, state legislative records list the measure as having passed both the Senate and Assembly.