S. 3457 — Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2025

This section directs the EPA Administrator to publish human health water quality criteria under CWA section 304(a)(1) for each measurable perfluoroalkyl substance, polyfluoroalkyl substance, or class of those substances not later than 3 years after enactment. The section further requires the Administrator to (1) take final action on rules establishing effluent limitations guidelines and standards for discharges (including into publicly owned treatment works) of such substances from specified point source categories—organic chemicals/plastics/synthetic fibers, electroplating, and metal finishing by September 30, 2026; textile mills and landfills by September 30, 2027; and leather tanning/finishing, paint formulating, and plastics molding/forming by September 30, 2028; (2) require monitoring of such discharges, effective on enactment, for those categories plus pulp/paper/paperboard, airports, and electrical/electronic components; (3) determine by December 31, 2026, whether to develop such guidelines and standards for the additional categories (publishing any such rules by December 31, 2028 if proceeding); and (4) promulgate EPA Method 1633A for PFAS analysis under 40 CFR part 136 by January 31, 2026. The section defines "measurable," "perfluoroalkyl substance," "polyfluoroalkyl substance," and other terms (with "treatment works" and "effluent limitation" as defined in CWA sections 212 and 502, respectively). (As background, effluent limitations guidelines and standards establish technology-based pollution controls for industrial point source discharges into U.S. waters; water quality criteria inform state water quality standards.)