New EU measures to monitor ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water come into effect
The EU has brought in new rules to monitor and control PFAS in drinking water, to help Member States comply with the recently updated Drinking Water Directive (DWD). While this is good news, action is still needed to address the PFAS pollution crisis at source.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of over 10,000 chemicals, sometimes called ‘forever chemicals’, as they are highly persistent and take generations to break down in the environment. Exposure to some PFAS has been linked with adverse health impacts, including certain cancers, reduced fertility, and the disruption of the immune system.
The number of PFAS pollution hotspots across Europe is growing. PFAS contamination in groundwater and surface water means some regions are facing tap water bans, while others have been warned against eating locally farmed eggs and vegetables.
Under the new rules, which entered into force on 12th January 2026, Member States must use harmonised methods to monitor PFAS levels in drinking water. The use of harmonised methods means that data collected across the EU will be consistent and easier to measure against the new limit values set out under the DWD.
If a Member State finds levels of PFAS exceeding the limit, they must inform the public and take fast action to reduce the level of PFAS and protect citizens’ health. This could include shutting down contaminated wells, treating water to remove PFAS, or restricting the use of impacted water supplies.
This is the first time PFAS in drinking water is being ‘systematically monitored’ across the EU.
Jessika Roswall, the EU’s Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and the Circular Economy said:
“PFAS pollution is a growing concern for drinking water across Europe. With harmonised limits and mandatory monitoring now in force, Member States have the rules and tools to swiftly detect and address PFAS to protect public health.”
These new rules are a welcome step forwards, but they still do not address the continued manufacturing and emission of PFAS into our environment. Without stopping PFAS production at the source, we will continue to face PFAS contamination emergencies and growing clean-up costs. Therefore, CHEM Trust supports the EU universal PFAS restriction and a ban on PFAS pesticides, as well as the call for PFAS-free alternatives, many of which are already available or development.
Read more about the universal PFAS restriction here, and the availability of PFAS alternatives.
