US Environmental Protection Agency cracks down on a range of water pollutants, including microplastics and “forever chemicals” | Photo Credit: KEN CEDENO

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has embarked on an initiative to protect drinking water from microplastics, pharmaceuticals, forever chemicals, and dozens of other contaminants.

“For the first time in the program’s history, EPA is designating both microplastics and pharmaceuticals as priority contaminant groups — a direct response to the concerns of millions of Americans who have long demanded answers about what they and their families are drinking every day,” the EPA said.

The agency has released for public comments its draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6), aimed at regulating threats in public water systems. The draft CCL 6 includes four contaminant groups— microplastics; pharmaceuticals; per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); and disinfection byproducts — as well as 75 chemicals and nine microbes that may be found in drinking water.

The EPA’s move aims to safeguard drinking water against microplastics — tiny plastic particles, which have been detected in human blood, breast milk, and organs; pharmaceuticals, including antidepressants, hormones, antibiotics, and other drugs that enter water systems through human waste and improper disposal.

EPA is simultaneously releasing human health benchmarks for 374 pharmaceuticals, giving states, tribes, and local water systems a critical new tool to assess risk and take action when drug residues are found at concerning levels, it said.

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Published on April 6, 2026