The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), the drinking water watchdog for England and Wales, has told water companies they must address concerning levels of PFAS in untreated drinking water sources serving more than 6 million people.

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.

A joint analysis of DWI data by Watershed Investigations and the BBC found that the regulator had ordered water companies to take action on PFAS in untreated water, after issues were flagged at hundreds of water treatment works, reservoirs, boreholes, and supply systems. Anglian Water, which serves 4.2 million people, and Wessex Water, which serves 1.2 million, were among those that received notices.

Affinity Water, a supplier to some areas in and around London, has been served notices regarding levels of PFOA and PFOS, two PFAS which are banned in the UK. PFOA is classified as cancer-causing by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and PFOS is classified as possibly cancer-causing.

The notices order the water companies to take action, such as by increasing PFAS monitoring or improving treatment processes.

The industry body Water UK has called for the chemicals to be banned in the UK and for PFAS manufacturers to fund the removal of PFAS from the environment. Estimates put the total cost of PFAS pollution clean-up in the UK at £9.9 billion annually if emissions remain uncontrolled. Even if all emissions stopped now, annual clean-up costs would still be £428 million for the next 20 years.

CHEM Trust’s Scientific Researcher Dr Shubhi Sharma said:

“Drinking water is a major source of PFAS exposure. The current UK standards for PFAS in drinking water are not protective enough. The UK Government needs to match the EU and bring in stringent thresholds.”

To tackle the PFAS pollution crisis at the source, CHEM Trust is calling on the UK Government to restrict PFAS as a group, in line with the upcoming EU universal PFAS restriction.

Read more about the EU’s restriction here and the availability of PFAS alternatives.

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