A sum of twenty-five PFAS as a quality standard for surface waters
Directive (EU) 2026/805 amends three water directives. It sets a standard for the sum of 25 PFAS in surface waters, the sum of 20 PFAS in groundwater, and places bisphenol A among priority hazardous substances.
- The directive was adopted on 30 March 2026; it amends the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, the Groundwater Directive 2006/118/EC and the Environmental Quality Standards Directive 2008/105/EC.
- In surface waters the standard applies to the sum of 25 PFAS expressed as perfluorooctanoic acid equivalents; in groundwater to the sum of 20 PFAS already known from the drinking water rules, with a separate, stricter treatment of the four considered of greatest concern.
- Bisphenol A becomes a priority hazardous substance, while bisphenols B and S become river basin specific pollutants monitored by member states; pharmaceuticals are added to the list as well.
- The directive introduces effect-based monitoring alongside determination of individual substances — for environmental laboratories this is a new kind of testing next to chromatography.