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Is there PFAS in UK drinking water?

Yes, in some samples. The Drinking Water Inspectorate says: “There are currently no statutory standards for PFAS in drinking water England and Wales, nor is there a World Health Organisation guideline value.”[1] Its guideline value is 0.1 micrograms per litre for the sum of 48 named PFAS. For England's 2025 results it reports: “In 2025, two treated water samples supplied to consumers were reported in Tier 3.”[2] Tier 3 means 0.1 µg/L or more. For Wales: “During 2025, there were no tier 2 or tier 3 samples in Wales, with 49 positive samples in tier 1.”[3]

A treated-water result at Charlton Minety

“Sampling undertaken in early February 2025 identified a sum of PFAS concentration of 0.103 µg/L in treated water from Wessex Water’s Charlton Minety works.”

Source: Drinking Water Inspectorate: Drinking Water 2025 — Summary of the Chief Inspector's report for drinking water in England, PFAS section ↗, read 21 September 2026

What PFAS are

“PFAS (per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances) is a chemical family consisting of at least 5,000 individual substances.”

Source: Drinking Water Inspectorate: PFAS and Forever Chemicals ↗, read 21 September 2026

“Based on our current knowledge, the low levels of PFAS detected in some untreated water abstracted for public drinking water supplies has no acute or immediate impact on human health.”

Source: Drinking Water Inspectorate: PFAS and Forever Chemicals ↗, read 21 September 2026

Scotland and Northern Ireland

The figures above are for England and Wales. We hold no PFAS results for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Related pages

Sources

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

By TapWaterData Editorial

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