Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are within the guideline levels set by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate’s (DWI) current guideline limit on individual types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) of 100 nanograms per litre for treated drinking water was set in 2021 based on an assessment of existing scientific knowledge. These limits were agreed with the UK Health Security Agency to be robust levels with an appropriate margin to ensure our drinking water is not a danger to human health.

Work continues across the Government to help us assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources, and potential risks to inform policy and regulatory approaches.

In July we also announced a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to deliver on our legally binding targets to save nature. This includes how best to manage chemicals, including the risks posed by PFAS.