,"On January 5, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its proposal to establish a maximum residue limit (MRL) for perchlorate in drinking water. The proposal was issued under Announcement 2026-00021, as referenced in the Federal Register.
Under the proposed measure, the EPA intends to set the maximum allowable level of perchlorate in drinking water at 0.02 mg/L. Perchlorate is a chemical contaminant known to interfere with iodine uptake in the thyroid, and its presence in drinking water has been subject to increasing regulatory scrutiny in the United States.
The proposal is scheduled for formal publication in the Federal Register on January 6, 2026. Following publication, the EPA will open a 60-day public comment period, during which stakeholders, industry representatives, public health organizations, and other interested parties may submit feedback on the proposed limit.
The outcome of the consultation process will inform the EPA’s decision on whether to finalize, revise, or withdraw the proposed MRL, potentially impacting federal and state drinking water compliance requirements."