Red alert: Drinking water at risk – PFAS contamination in Berlin is increasing!

Red alert: Drinking water at risk – PFAS contamination in Berlin is increasing!

The environmental association BUND warns that drinking water quality in Germany is increasingly at risk. In a recent investigation, the BUND presented alarming results showing that eternity chemicals, also known as PFAS, were detected in many of the drinking water samples tested. These chemicals pose a threat not only to our freshwater resources, but also to public health. Because some samples already had PFAS concentrations that were above the new limit values, which are due to come into force from January 2026, as euwid-wasser.de reports.

In total, per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances were detected in 42 of 46 samples analyzed. In three specific cases the measured values ​​were above the future limits. This bad news reinforces BUND's call for comprehensive regulation of the entire PFAS group and the consistent application of the polluter pays principle to safely treat and remediate contaminated water resources and soils, reports tagesspiegel.de. A rethinking of chemical policy is urgently needed to protect people and nature.

PFAS: A hidden risk

What are PFAS actually? These substances are used in industry in the manufacture of products such as anoraks, pans and cosmetics. They can be found in many everyday objects, which further increases their danger in the water. The threat posed by PFAS is so serious that international and European measures have already been taken to restrict substances such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The latter has been banned under the Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation since July 2020, and the EU Commission is also facing further restrictions on PFAS in the future, as ECHA makes clear.

A serious risk is the possible health consequences. PFAS are suspected of causing liver damage as well as kidney and testicular cancer. Of particular concern is the fact that long-chain PFAS can accumulate in the human body, potentially causing long-term health effects. The BUND has emphasized that PFAS are not only detected in drinking water, but now also in mineral water wells - an alarming signal.

Politics is required

At the political level, the discussion about stricter regulation of PFAS is becoming increasingly louder. The BUND not only calls for a restriction of the entire PFAS group, but also the strict application of the polluter pays principle in order to be able to clearly assign responsibility for the remediation of contaminated areas and waters. According to environmental organizations and experts, this requirement is clearly necessary to ensure drinking water quality and thus the health of the population.

Developments in this area make it clear that it is high time to activate politics. Protecting our water resources should be a top priority for all parties. After all, it's about our most important asset - the water that we consume every day. A clear direction in chemical policy could help to minimize contamination from PFAS and secure drinking water supplies in the long term.