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New EU Rules on PFAS in Drinking Water Come into Force

Published January 13, 2026, 13:17
New EU Rules on PFAS in Drinking Water Come into Force

New provisions requiring mandatory and harmonized monitoring of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water have come into force across the European Union (EU), as part of the revised Drinking Water Directive. This is the first time a systematic check for PFAS has been established. According to the European Commission, Member States are obliged to record PFAS levels, transmit the data to the Commission, and report exceedances of limits and any deviations. In the event of exceeding the limits, authorities must take immediate measures 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 Commission has issued technical guidelines for measuring PFAS. The revised Directive was adopted in 2020 and had to be incorporated into national law by January 2023, setting new, stricter quality standards for drinking water throughout Europe. Monitoring PFAS is important due to their potential harmful effects on health.