Brussels: Since yesterday, Member States must monitor, in a harmonised way, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels in drinking water to comply with the new EU limit values under the recast Drinking Water Directive. They also have to inform the Commission of these monitoring results, including data on exceedances of the limit values, incidents, and any granted derogations.
According to Cyprus News Agency, this measure contributes directly to a key objective of the Water Resilience Strategy - the right to safe drinking water. It also responds to the strategy's call for urgent action to tackle pollutants that threaten Europe's drinking water sources. The recast Drinking Water Directive was adopted in 2020, and Member States were required to transpose the directive into national law by January 2023. To support consistent monitoring across the EU, the Commission issued technical guidelines in 2024.
This is the first time systematic monitoring of PFAS in drinking water is being implemented in the EU. If the limit values are exceeded, Member States must take action to reduce the level of PFAS to protect public health and inform 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.
Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, stated that 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. More information on the new rules is available online.