Water regulator applies stricter PFAS limits to drinking water in England and Wales

By Rebecca Trager2024-11-07T14:30:00

Someone filling a glass with water from a tap

Source: © Alena Matrosova/Shutterstock

New guidance, expected to go into effect in January, would cumulatively restrict 48 different PFAS

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has applied more stringent restrictions on the levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) allowed in drinking water in England and Wales. Water companies will now have to enforce a limit of 100 nanograms per litre (ng/l) cumulatively for 48 different PFAS. Currently, they only measure whether drinking water samples exceed 100ng/l for 48 individual types of PFAS, which has meant that the total amount of PFAS could far surpass the high-risk threshold.