Taiwan Drafts PFAS in Drinking Water Standards

A set of draft revisions to the Drinking Water Quality requirements (the Standards) were introduced on August 21, 2024, by Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment (MOENV). The amendments include new requirements for Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Until October 21, 2024, comments on the draft are welcome.

PFAS Limits in Drinking Water

Tap water, water from community-installed water supply systems, and water treated by stationary continuous water supply equipment are all covered by the Standards when it comes to water supplied for human use. The Standards set limits on the amount of chemicals, sensory characteristics, and microorganisms that can be found in drinking water.

When detected in drinking water, perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS), which are recognized for their tenacity and potential for cancer, can pose a serious hazard to public health. MOENV suggested establishing criteria for three categories of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) in the criteria in order to reduce these dangers. The draft states that starting on July 1, 2027, the concentrations of these chemicals in drinking water must adhere to the following specifications.

Compliance Requirements Before Regulation Enactment

Before the regulation is formally put into effect, the draft mandates that drinking water testing and management be strengthened in addition to setting PFAS limitations in water supply and management units of water purification equipment. More precisely:

• In the case of water purification treatment equipment that produces more than 20,000 cubic meters of water per day, two tests must be carried out prior to the implementation date, separated by at least 360 days;
• One test must be completed before the implementation date for equipment that supplies fewer than 20,000 cubic meters per day.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), the relevant local governments, and MOENV must be notified within 7 days of the test report’s issue date if the detected levels of PFAS surpass the limitations shown in the above table by the water supply or management units of the water purification equipment. A quality management plan for drinking water must also be submitted by the concerned units to MOENV within 30 days, and copies must also be delivered to MOEA and local governments. This mandate also comes into play in the event that, prior to the implementation date, MOENV randomly tests the water quality and discovers that PFAS levels are higher than the designated thresholds.

If the management plan specifies that new building or equipment is needed, it must be finished in two years. The units may request extensions or amendments to the management plan in response to natural catastrophes or other events beyond their control; nevertheless, the plan’s execution period cannot go until the date on which the rule goes into effect.