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New EU Rules for PFAS in Drinking Water Come into Force

Published January 13, 2026, 20:13
New EU Rules for PFAS in Drinking Water Come into Force

New regulations for monitoring PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water are now in effect across the European Union, as part of the revised Drinking Water Directive. This is the first time a systematic check has been established for these substances, which are characterized as 'forever chemicals' due to their persistence in the environment. Member states are now obliged to record PFAS levels in drinking water, transmit the data to the European Commission, and report any exceedances of limits or incidents. In the event of an exceedance, authorities must take immediate action to protect public health, such as closing contaminated wells or adding treatment stages. The new reporting system is part of the Water Resilience Strategy and the EU's goal of universal access to safe drinking water. The European Commission has already issued technical guidelines for measuring PFAS. The revised Directive was adopted in 2020 and had to be incorporated into the national law of member states by January 2023. Its implementation marks a significant improvement in drinking water quality and the protection of citizens' health throughout Europe.