WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that it plans to weaken limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water.

Last year, the Biden administration passed regulations requiring drinking water utilities to reduce them to the lowest level they can be reliably measured.

The rule was the first national drinking water limit on toxic PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are widespread and long-lasting in the environment.

Officials said it would reduce exposure for 100 million people and help prevent thousands of illnesses, including cancers.

The EPA said they would keep standards in place for two common types of PFAS, referred to as PFOA and PFOS, and give utilities two extra years - until 2031 - to comply and treat for the chemicals.

"We are on a path to uphold the agency’s nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water. At the same time, we will work to provide common-sense flexibility in the form of additional time for compliance,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.

However, limits on three types of PFAS, including GenX substances found in North Carolina, will be eliminated and reconsidered by the agency.

Health advocates praised the EPA and the Biden administration for not backing away from tough limits the agency proposed last year. But water utilities took issue with the rule, saying treatment systems are expensive to install and that customers will end up paying more for water.

The utilities sued the EPA, arguing that the EPA lacked the authority to regulate a mixture of PFAS and said the agency didn’t properly support limits on several newer types of PFAS that are now rescinded. They also asked for the now-granted two-year extension.

The Biden-era EPA estimated the rule will cost about $1.5 billion to implement each year. Water utility associations say the costly rules, combined with recent mandates to replace harmful lead pipes, will raise residents’ bills and fall hardest on small communities with few resources.

The Biden administration did work to address cost concerns. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $9 billion for chemicals like PFAS and utilities have won multibillion-dollar settlements against PFAS polluters that will help.

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Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.