Water companies have been ordered to tackle potentially harmful levels of so-called forever chemicals in drinking water sources for more than six million people, the BBC can reveal.Forever chemicals, or PFAS, are a group of thousands of substances used in everyday products. They are persistent pollutants which build up in the environment, and a small number have been linked to increased risk of some serious illnesses.The BBC examined 23 enforcement notices issued by the Drinking Water Inspectorate over elevated levels of PFAS which could “constitute a potential danger to human health” to see how many people were affected.Industry body Water UK said it was confident drinking water was safe.But Water UK called for a ban on the chemicals to prevent accumulation. Amid growing worries about these chemicals, water companies have been required since 2021 to test for 47 of the most concerning ones in water supplied to customers’ homes and drinking water sources such as aquifers and reservoirs.In the last four years, 1.7 million tests for individual forever chemicals have been carried out across the network. At least 9,432 of those recorded PFAS levels above the level which the DWI says could constitute a potential danger to human health.When a test result is above or likely to breach this level – set at 0.01ug/L – (micrograms per litre) the Drinking Water Inspectorate issues enforcement notices to the water company requiring action to be taken to ensure water is safe.The BBC analysed the enforcement …
