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Water UK has issued a statement calling on the government to ban the manufacturing of non-essential PFAS and to strengthen the application of the “polluter pays” principle in tackling PFAS contamination. The trade association, which represents water and wastewater companies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, argues those responsible for releasing the chemicals into the environment should bear the cost of clean-up rather than water customers.
PFAS in the water supply costing £70m per year
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are a group of chemicals valued for their water, grease and stain-resistant properties. Also known as ‘forever chemicals’, PFAS are widely used in products like non-stick pans, waterproof clothing and food packaging and there is virtually no part of the world where PFAS cannot be found.
In recent years regulators and the water sector have become increasingly focused on addressing PFAS contamination due to concerns over its persistence in the environment and potential risks to ecosystems and human health. This includes expanding efforts to improve understanding of how PFAS enter water systems and to develop strategies to reduce exposure.
As PFAS continue to enter rivers, groundwater and wastewater systems, Water UK warned that water companies are increasingly faced with the challenge of removing them through complex and costly advanced treatment processes, with potential for significant long-term investment requirements. Water companies reportedly spend more than £70m a year to ensure PFAS is removed from drinking water to the point of one part per 10 billion – what Water UK calls one of the strictest limits in the world.
Water UK urges combining polluter pays principle with tighter regulation
In their statement, Water UK said: “We want to see the manufacture of PFAS banned except for where they are critical to safety and no alternative can be found and we want PFAS manufacturers to pay for the clean-up.”
The trade body warns that the current reliance on water companies and, ultimately, billpayers to finance this work, risks placing an unfair burden on consumers, especially when PFAS emissions originate from industrial processes and manufactured products.
Instead, Water UK said a more effective and equitable approach would be to strengthen the “polluter pays” principle, ensuring that manufacturers and users of PFAS bear the financial responsibility for preventing and managing pollution at source. Additionally, tighter regulation of PFAS use, alongside clearer obligations on producers, would help reduce environmental contamination and limit the need for costly end-of-pipe treatment.
Italian courts recently went one step further, prosecuting executives at a chemical plant to prison terms of up to 17 years for polluting water used by hundreds of thousands of people with Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS, a.k.a. “forever chemicals”).
Governments PFAS plan
The UK government has recently published plans aimed at strengthening the evidence base on PFAS and informing future policy decisions. However, industry stakeholders continue to call for more urgent action on restricting use and addressing pollution at source.
Water UK said tackling PFAS effectively would require coordinated action across government, regulators, manufacturers and the water industry, with a stronger emphasis on prevention and cost recovery from polluters.