On 3 February 2026, the UK government published its first-ever National PFAS Strategy — a comprehensive policy document setting out how the country intends to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as forever chemicals, across multiple exposure pathways including drinking water.

The strategy is significant because, for the first time, it signals that the government is actively considering legally binding limits for PFAS in drinking water. Currently, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) only issues non-statutory guidance — water companies are not legally obliged to meet any specific PFAS concentration threshold.

The current regulatory gap

The European Union introduced statutory PFAS limits for drinking water under the revised Drinking Water Directive in 2021, with a combined PFAS limit of 0.1 µg/L (100 ng/L) and a sum-of-20 limit of 0.5 µg/L. The UK, post-Brexit, did not adopt these limits. As a result, UK water companies operate under DWI improvement notices that require them to reduce PFAS levels but with no defined numerical compliance threshold in law.

MyTapWater's data shows that 14 of 20 UK water companies (excluding Scottish Water, which operates under separate legislation) currently hold active DWI improvement notices specifically related to PFAS. These notices have a target completion date of 2031 in most cases.

What the strategy says

The February 2026 strategy document commits to a statutory review of drinking water quality regulations to consider introducing specific PFAS limits. It also proposes:

  • A new PFAS monitoring framework requiring water companies to test for a broader panel of PFAS compounds
  • Extended producer responsibility for PFAS manufacturers and users
  • Restrictions on certain PFAS uses in consumer products
  • A public health information campaign on PFAS exposure routes

What this means for UK tap water

For consumers, the strategy does not immediately change the safety status of your tap water. All UK water companies supply water that meets current UK legal standards. However, the strategy acknowledges that some PFAS compounds have no safe lower threshold — meaning any exposure carries some risk.

Enter your postcode above to see whether your water company is under a PFAS improvement notice, and what PFAS-related data is available for your zone.

Source: UK Government PFAS Strategy, published 3 February 2026; DWI public register of improvement notices.