The risks from PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water have been a subject of great concern worldwide. Drinking water in the EU must comply with strict quality standards, which were updated to include two limits on PFAS in the EU quality of water intended for human consumption Directive (2020). All EU member states must ensure their drinking water complies with these limits by 12 January 2026.

Many pesticides used as plant protection products, biocides or veterinary products are PFAS substances.  A limit of 0.1 µg/L was set for the sum of 20 PFAS of concern, and a second limit of 0.5 µg/L was set for the total of all PFAS . These are similar to the limits for pesticides (0.1 µg/L for individual pesticides, 0.5 µg/L for total pesticides), which have been in place since before the original EU drinking water directive in 1998.

However, many PFAS pesticides produce additional PFAS substances as degradation or transformation products. Many of these degradation products are not classified as “pesticides” but must still comply with the limits on “total PFAS”. In practical terms, this changes the limit for “non-relevant” PFAS metabolites from 10 µg/L (set by SANCO/221/2000) to 0.5 µg/L or less.

Staphyt has an experienced team of environmental fate and behaviour experts who can model the potential groundwater leaching of pesticides and their metabolites to determine whether they comply with future limits on PFAS.