Cleaning up UK drinking water
Join us in calling on the UK Government to overhaul its drinking water PFAS standards.
We are calling on the UK Government to overhaul its drinking water standards after our analysis revealed more than a third of water courses tested in England and Wales contain medium or high-risk levels of PFAS. This group, more commonly known as forever chemicals, is linked to a range of health issues including testicular cancer, fertility issues and developmental defects in unborn children.
On this page
More than 4,700
The number of different PFAS types, sometimes known as forever chemicals.
More than a third
The proportion of tested water courses in England and Wales that exceed our recommended limits.
10 ng/L*
Our proposed limit on the concentration of each forever chemical in drinking water.
100 ng/L
Our proposed limit on the total concentration of all forever chemicals in drinking water.
Acceptable levels of PFAS
More than a third of water courses tested in the UK would breach our limits for 鈥榝orever chemicals鈥�.
New analysis has revealed that 35 and 37 percent of water courses tested in England and Wales contain medium or high-risk levels of PFOS and PFOA respectively, which are types of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). PFAS are often referred to as 鈥榝orever chemicals鈥� because they are near indestructible in the natural environment or in our bodies.
There is growing evidence that some PFAS carry serious health risks including cancer, thyroid disease, and fertility problems as well as developmental defects in unborn children. While they can be filtered out of drinking water, UK water companies are not required by law to reduce them until they are deemed 鈥榟igh risk鈥�.
Current standards allow concentrations of each individual PFAS at up to ten times the level considered 鈥榣ow risk鈥�, which is 10ng/L (nanograms per litre). There are hundreds of different types of PFAS but there is currently no overarching limit on the total concentration when they are combined.
For comparison, the US has now a limit of four nanograms per litre (ng/L) for each of PFOS and PFOA, two of the most common PFAS, while the EU鈥檚 Drinking Water Directive states that 20 widespread PFAS must collectively not exceed 100 ng/L.
Acceptable levels of PFAS. For comparison, the US has now a limit of four nanograms per litre (ng/L) for each of PFOS and PFOA, two of the most common PFAS, while the EU鈥檚 Drinking Water Directive states that 20 widespread PFAS must collectively not exceed 100 ng/L.
In August 2024, the Drinking Water Inspectorate set a new stricter limit of 100 ng/L for the cumulative total of 48 different types of PFAS, which falls roughly in line with our proposals. However, government legislation has not yet been passed to reflect that position.
Read our full policy position statement, which contains in-depth explanations and references to supporting research.
Why does reducing PFAS matter?
PFAS break down slowly, with some taking more than a thousand years to do so, so they stay present in the environment for a long time. They have important uses in thousands of products, ranging from non-stick pans to medical devices and firefighting foam. But some have been linked to a range of serious health conditions including:
- Testicular cancer
- Thyroid disease
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Liver damage
- Fertility issues
- Harm to unborn children
We need to make sure they are handled appropriately during manufacturing, disposed of safely, and filtered out of our drinking water. Limiting the PFAS level means we can all live our lives without worrying about the adverse side effects of forever chemicals on our bodies.
The variety of serious health hazards associated with PFAS exposure. These chemicals have already been found in human bodies around the world and given that PFAS take so long to degrade, this could lead to intergenerational problems.
PFAS concentration levels in water courses in your area
Use our interactive map to find out the PFAS concentration levels in water courses in your area and write to your MP.
Zoom in to your area or use the search to find your constituency if you know it, check the higher levels shown in red, then click to find your MP details.
Data is freely available from
What causes high concentrations of PFAS?
Contamination is likely to be an issue in water courses near sites where there has been a significant discharge of PFAS, including:
- Airports, military sites, fire training areas and sites of major fires, where fluorinated AFFF (a firefighting foam) is used. For example, high concentrations would be expected at the site of the in Hemel Hempstead.
- Industrial facilities that produce and/or use PFAS. High concentrations of PFAS have been found in water courses in industrial or formerly industrial areas, such as the Humber Estuary.
- Wastewater treatment plants that produce effluent and sludge contaminated with PFAS.
- Landfill sites where PFAS-contaminated liquid may percolate through the deposited waste and leak out into surrounding soil and water (known as landfill leachate).
- Incinerators usually aren鈥檛 hot enough to fully combust PFAS, therefore they may produce ash that contaminates surrounding air, soil and water.
Lifecycle of PFAS
The PFAS lifecycle. There are various ways that we engage with PFAS and how they can enter our bodies, food and water sources. After fulfilling their initial purpose, these chemicals can unexpectedly drift into other aspects of our environment.
Our report
Read our evidence report to understand more about PFAS, the three questions to which we must find answers, and the work that has already gone into tackling this issue. Learn more about the problems associated with forever chemicals and the potential ways to address this crisis.
Our call to clean up PFAS
We鈥檙e calling for five simple action points from the UK Government:
- Reduce the current cap per individual type of PFAS 10-fold from 100 nanograms per litre (ng/L) to 10 ng/L of drinking water.
- Introduce a cap on the total level of PFAS combined of 100ng/L.
- Ensure the many hundreds of sources of PFAS are reported and captured in a national inventory.
- Impose and enforce stricter regulatory limits on allowable levels of PFAS in industrial discharges.
- Set up a national chemicals regulator to provide better strategic coordination of monitoring and regulation of all chemicals including PFAS.
We have already made progress on achieving one of these goals as in August 2024, the Drinking Water Inspectorate set a new stricter limit of 100 ng/L for the cumulative total of 48 different types of PFAS, which falls roughly in line with our proposals. We are still pushing for the UK Government to put this into legislation to strengthen that position.
What can you do?
joining our call for the Government to impose new statutory drinking water standards.
Contact your water company to urge them to implement the limits above.
Help spread the word
Download the image to share on social media and encourage your friends and family to join our campaign for safer drinking water.
FAQs
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) 鈥� or 鈥榝orever chemicals鈥� 鈥� are a large, complex group of that are valued for a range of benefits such as durability and non-stick, water-repellent and anti-grease properties. They are found in thousands of products, from skin creams and cosmetics to frying pans, outdoor clothing and shoes, firefighting foam, medical devices and batteries.
PFAS molecules have a chain of linked carbon and fluorine atoms. The carbon-flourine bond is considered one of the strongest bonds in organic chemisty, which means these chemicals break down slowly 鈥� some take over 1,000 years to do so. They therefore stay present in the environment for a very long time.
The extent to which PFAS are used varies globally. However, they are used and found everywhere 鈥� they have even been detected in . Analysis of blood and urine samples suggests that human exposure to PFAS is .
PFAS leak into the soil, water, and air from sources such as industry, firefighting foams and waste infrastructure. Because they break down slowly, if at all, they can build up in the environment, leading to the greater likelihood of them passing into drinking water and the food chain. If people and wildlife consume more PFAS than they excrete, these chemicals can build up in their bodies.
PFAS been linked to a range of on human health, including increasing the risk of testicular and kidney cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, liver damage and the development of unborn children.
People are most likely exposed to these chemicals by consuming PFAS-contaminated water or food, using products made with PFAS, or breathing air containing PFAS.
Water companies in England and Wales are required to measure and manage the levels of 48 varieties of PFAS 鈥� though there are thousands of different types, some are never checked.
Concentration levels of each of these individual PFAS in drinking water must not exceed 100 nanograms per litre (ng/L). This is 10 times the recommended 鈥榣ow risk鈥� limit according to the Drinking Water Inspectorate鈥檚 own guidance, which states that levels exceeding 10 ng/L are medium or high risk.
In August 2024, the DWI also imposed a new total limit on PFAS which means the sum of the 48 measured PFAS should be no higher than 100 ng/L. The Government, however, has not yet put any of this guidance into legislation, as of October 2024.
In August 2024, the Drinking Water Inspectorate imposed a new total limit on PFAS which means the sum of the 48 measured PFAS should be no higher than 100 ng/L in England and Wales as of 1 January 2025. This goes beyond EU regulations but we are still pushing for those limits to be adopted by the UK Government in legislation.
For comparison, the US has implemented a limit of 4 ng/L for each of PFOS and PFOA, two of the most common PFAS[i] and the EU鈥檚 Drinking Water Directive states that 20 widespread PFAS must collectively not exceed 100 ng/L. Scotland has adopted the EU guidance of a total limit of 100 ng/L.
Currently, the most common treatment method for PFAS is water blending (combining water sources to dilute the concentration of PFAS). Water treatment plants can also remove PFAS using a range of methods, with blending water from different sources and granulated carbon filtration being the most commonly used. However, if waste generated during filtration is not dealt with properly, PFAS can be re-released into the environment, where the chemicals can continue to cycle through and pose health risks.
Destructive technologies can break down PFAS once and for all and remove them from the environment for good. However, current options are limited in the scale at which they can be deployed. There are also a range of challenges in monitoring PFAS, including cost, the sheer (and growing number) of these chemicals and a lack of analytical standards for many PFAS. Investment is needed in research, development and innovation (RD&I) to address these challenges 鈥� and chemical scientists have an important role to play.
It is important to note that the levels on our interactive map show PFAS concentrations in the water courses themselves 鈥� not the drinking water that comes from your tap. Water companies are required to remediate water when a PFAS is found at levels more than 100 ng/L but we are calling for this limit to be reduced.
Scientists are still investigating how these chemicals may impact health. Given this, it is sensible to take a proactive and precautionary approach for the sake of public health. This is why recommended limits are set at a low level.
However, it is important to bear in mind that the links between exposure to a given chemical and the risk of negative impacts on health is complex. Higher levels of PFAS in your local water courses do not mean that you as an individual are necessarily at a high risk of developing health issues as a result.
Household water filtration systems, fitted at the tap or using a jug with a filter, could be useful for removing PFAS from drinking water. However, some technologies are more effective than others, and more research is needed. Most household water filtration jugs use granulated carbon filters, but it is unknown how effective these household versions are at removing PFAS.
Fidra, an environmental charity working to reduce chemical and plastic pollution in the environment, has created a website offering consumers advice on PFAS-free products.