Drinking Water: Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances
(asked on 21st January 2025) - View Source
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to monitor levels of perfluoroalkyl substances in tap water.
Answered by
Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has provided guidance on PFAS to water companies since 2007. In 2021 a guideline value of 0.1 micrograms per litre was adopted for drinking water which, since August 2024 when DWI’s guidance was updated, now applies to a combined PFAS sum for 48 PFAS. These were agreed with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to be robust levels with an appropriate margin to ensure our drinking water is safe to drink. There is no evidence of PFAS concentrations above this value in drinking water supplies.
Controlling the sale and marketing of bottled waters do not include any specific requirements relating to PFAS. We will monitor any new or emerging evidence to ensure the regulations remain robust and fit for purpose.