EU introduces harmonised PFAS monitoring in drinking water under recast Drinking Water Directive

Directorate-General for Environment reports that new EU rules take effect today (Jan 12, 2026) requiring harmonised monitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water to ensure compliance with the EU limit values under the recast Drinking Water Directive. Member States must inform the Commission of monitoring results, including exceedances, incidents and any derogations. The reporting system is simpler than under the previous directive and marks the first systematic PFAS monitoring in the EU. If limits are exceeded, States must take action to reduce PFAS levels and protect public health, including closing contaminated wells, adding PFAS treatment, or restricting use of supplies. The initiative supports the Water Resilience Strategy’s right to safe drinking water and follows 2024 guidelines on PFAS measurement. 

Overview

The article reports on new rules entering into application today, January 12, requiring Member States to monitor PFAS levels in drinking water in a harmonised way. The aim is to ensure compliance with the limit values set under the recast Drinking Water Directive, with reporting to the European Commission on monitoring results, exceedances, incidents and any derogations. The system is presented as simpler than the previous Drinking Water Directive and is described as the EU's first systematic PFAS monitoring of drinking water.

"PFAS pollution is a growing concern for drinking water across Europe. With harmonised limits and mandatory monitoring now in force, Member States have the rules and tools to swiftly detect and address PFAS to protect public health." - Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy

Legal and Policy Context

The background notes that the recast Drinking Water Directive was adopted in 2020, with Member States required to transpose the directive into national law by January 2023. The article emphasizes that the recast directive seeks to guarantee safer access to water for Europeans and to set world-leading standards for drinking water, aligning with the Zero Pollution Action Plan and the Water Resilience Strategy. It also situates PFAS monitoring within broader EU environmental and health protection agendas.

What the Rules Require

Under the new framework, Member States must harmonise PFAS monitoring and inform the Commission of results, including data on exceedances and any derogations granted. The new reporting regime is designed to reduce data burden and standardise reporting across the EU, while ensuring timely public health protection when PFAS levels exceed limits.

Analytical Methods and Guidelines

The article recalls that in 2024 the Commission issued technical guidelines on analytical methods for measuring PFAS Total and Sum of PFAS in drinking water to support consistent monitoring under the recast directive. These guidelines were developed through a technical and socio-economic assessment in close consultation with Member States and set out preferred monitoring approaches for PFAS under the directive.

Public Health and Strategy Alignment

Officials frame the move as a direct contribution to the Water Resilience Strategy’s objective of ensuring safe drinking water. It is presented as urgent action to tackle pollutants that threaten Europe’s drinking water sources and public health, consistent with the strategy’s call for rapid response to contamination events.

Implementation and Resources

The piece notes the ongoing work to support consistent EU-wide monitoring and mentions the technical guidelines as a foundational tool for measuring PFAS Total and Sum of PFAS. It underscores the collaborative process with Member States in developing the guidelines and the aim of improving reliability and timeliness of PFAS data across the Union.

Conclusion and Further Information

Readers are pointed to further information about the Drinking Water Directive and the Water Resilience Strategy via links to the European Commission, with publication dated January 12, 2026, and attributed to the Directorate-General for Environment.

"The directives underpin the EU’s commitment to safe drinking water and to robust, science-based monitoring of PFAS across member states." - Directorate-General for Environment