CIWEM, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, has issued an urgent call for action to address the persistent issue of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals,’ in the UK’s water systems.

The call accompanies today’s publication of a Policy Position Statement (PPS) setting out CIWEM’s position on PFAS management and risk mitigation, particularly for the water and wastewater industry.

PFAS are a series of highly resistant chemicals used for numerous purposes across industries, which do not biodegrade. PFAS are not produced by water processes – however, they are increasingly present in fresh and wastewater as a result of contamination by consumer products and by industrial runoff.

PFAS are a large group of synthetic chemicals and have been used in a wide range of industrial and consumer products for decades. These include firefighting foams, water-repellent fabrics, anti-stick coverings, packaging, ski wax, pesticides and more, resulting in multiple contamination sources ranging from manufacturing facilities and firefighting training areas to farmland and landfills.

Similar to micro- and nanoplastics, because of the wide range of uses of PFAS, they are now regularly found in the natural environment and in humans, at varying concentrations. Several PFAS compounds have been found to have adverse health effects or carcinogenic properties. Their risk to health is heightened by the capacity of PFAS to bioaccumulate in animals, including farm animals and humans.

The leading royal chartered professional body dedicated to the sustainable management of water and the environment is warning that PFAS can pose a problem at every step of the water and wastewater lifecycle.

The extreme persistence of PFAS means that historical contamination continues to impact environments long after their initial release. This persistence, combined with their mobility in water and soil, leads to ongoing pollution even when immediate sources are controlled.

CIWEM’s PPS also highlights that assessing and managing PFAS contamination presents further challenges. Thousands of PFAS compounds exist with varied chemical structures, making comprehensive testing costly and complex. Treatment technologies like membrane filtration, ion exchange, and activated carbon are effective but expensive, and new methods to destroy PFAS entirely are still under research. Advances in both testing and remediation are essential to keep up with emerging compounds and ensure safe, sustainable water treatment solutions.

Alastair Chisholm, Director of Policy, CIWEM said:

"Media and environmental regulators are sounding the alarm on PFAS, especially their presence in water. While drinking water accounts for less than 20% of our PFAS exposure, these chemicals impact every step of the water and wastewater cycle, posing serious challenges across the board.

“Removing PFAS from water and wastewater is incredibly costly, a burden that shouldn’t fall on water companies alone. PFAS producers and handlers must step up to prevent further pollution, and if they’re responsible for releasing PFAS into the environment, they should bear the costs of cleanup to protect and decontaminate our soil and water. Conventional water treatments can’t eliminate them, so proactive solutions are essential.”

Highlighting the health risks and environmental implications of PFAS, CIWEM's Policy Position Statement advocates for an eight-point plan:

1. Polluter-pays system: Make PFAS producers financially responsible for pollution cleanup and prevention, relieving water companies of high remediation costs.
2. Standardised detection: Establish uniform methods to detect and measure PFAS, ensuring consistency as technology advances.
3. Targeted PFAS bans: Ban non-essential PFAS while allowing exemptions for critical uses, reducing exposure and environmental impact.
4. Fund research: Invest in studies on PFAS health effects, alternative treatments, and safer substitutes to better manage and mitigate risks.
5. Comprehensive monitoring: Implement a holistic approach to manage raw water pollution and emerging contaminants, including PFAS and microplastics, throughout the water cycle.
6. PFAS risk map access: Share the Environment Agency’s PFAS contamination risk map with water companies to support informed decision-making.
7. Biosolids regulation: Mandate PFAS monitoring in biosolids and set limits on harmful compounds before land application, updating regulations as science progresses.
8. Product labelling: Label PFAS-containing consumer products, empowering consumers to make informed choices and reduce unnecessary exposure.

Data shows that some PFAS compounds can also have serious health effects, causing harm to the thyroid and liver, raising cholesterol, and increasing the risk of kidney and testicular cancer. Exposure during foetal development is also linked to negative health effects.

Alastair Chisholm added:

"The science is clear. PFAS are here to stay if we don’t act. We need immediate, coordinated efforts to address this growing environmental threat. We cannot afford to leave it to future generations."

Click here to download CIWEM’S Policy Position Statement on PFAS in full