EU cracks down on forever chemicals in drinking water. Will it work?

EU-wide protections against ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water have officially come into effect, but experts argue more action is needed.

The crackdown, which came into force on 12 January, marks the first time levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are being “systematically monitored”.

It means that all EU nations are now required to test contamination levels to ensure compliance with new limit values set out under the recast Drinking Water Directive, which sets the legal standard that water for human consumption must meet to be classed as safe and clean.

The move has been described as a "positive milestone", but an expert tells Euronews Green it won't protect Europeans from drinking "poisoned" water.

PFAS are a group of more than 10,000 synthetic chemicals that have been detected virtually everywhere on Earth, from the peak of Mount Everest to inside human blood.

They’re commonly referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ as they can take more than 1,000 years to degrade naturally. PFAS are primarily used to make items water- and grease-resistant, such as non-stick cookware, clothing and food packaging.

However, chronic exposure to forever chemicals has been linked to the promotion of certain cancers, reduced fertility and issues with the immune system. Scientists have previously warned that these human-made chemicals can be inhaled or ingested, and can even be absorbed by the skin.

In Europe, an estimated 12.5 million people live in communities with drinking water contaminated with PFAS.

Under new rules, EU nations must monitor PFAS levels in drinking water and inform the European Commission of their results.

The Commission states this reporting system is “simpler” than under the previous Drinking Water Directive and reduces the amount of data that needs to be collected.

If the limit values are exceeded, member states must “take action” to reduce the level of PFAS and protect public health – while also informing the public.

“These measures may include closing contaminated wells, adding treatment steps to remove PFAS, or restricting the use of drinking water supplies for as long as the exceedance continues,” the Commission states.

The crackdown comes shortly after France banned the sale, production or import of any product containing forever chemicals for which an alternative already exists. The first draft of this law did originally include prohibiting non-stick saucepans, but this was later removed following reports of “intense lobbying” from French manufacturer Tefal.

“PFAS pollution is a growing concern for drinking water across Europe,” says Jessika Roswall, commissioner for environment, water resilience and competitive circular economy.

“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.”

While the new drinking limits have been described as a "positive milestone", experts warn they are still only a "patchwork that treats symptoms, not causes".

Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet, tells Euronews Green that these standards tell Europeans when poison has arrived in their traps – but don't stop it being made, marketed or released.

"Thousands of forever chemicals remain in circulation, protected by a regulatory system that chases contamination rather than preventing it," she says. "Harmonised monitoring matters, but without robust, independent enforcement and real penalties for producers, member states can report data without effective action."

Sutherland argues that the measures also leave "vast swathes" of PFAS unregulated, despite scientists warning that low doses still threaten human health.

"A reporting system is not the same as shutting down pollution at its source," she adds. "We need stringent action on PFAS production and use across the board, not rules that catalogue contamination after it has already reached people's bodies."