Since 12 January 2026, new EU requirements for PFAS in drinking water have entered into application. For the first time, EU Member States must monitor PFAS levels in drinking water in a harmonised way and ensure compliance with the limits established under the recast Drinking Water Directive. [European Commission, New EU rules limit PFAS in drinking water, https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/new-eu-rules-limit-pfas-drinking-water-2026-01-12_en]
For water suppliers and companies involved in water treatment, this increases the importance of reliable PFAS analysis, appropriate filter-media selection and continuous monitoring.
What are the new EU PFAS limits?
The EU Drinking Water Directive defines two parameters for PFAS:
- Sum of PFAS: 0.10 µg/L
- PFAS Total: 0.50 µg/L
The “Sum of PFAS” refers to a defined group of PFAS considered particularly relevant for drinking water, while “PFAS Total” covers PFAS more broadly. Member States may use one or both parameters in their national implementation. [European Union, Directive (EU) 2020/2184, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2020/2184/oj/eng]
The European Commission has also published technical guidance intended to harmonise how PFAS are analysed and monitored across the EU. [European Commission, Technical guidelines regarding methods of analysis for monitoring PFAS, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4910/oj/eng]
What does this mean for water treatment?
Finding PFAS in water does not automatically determine which filtration technology should be used.
PFAS comprise a large group of different compounds, and treatment performance can depend on factors including:
- the specific PFAS present
- their concentrations
- water composition
- competing contaminants
- flow rate
- contact time
- existing pretreatment
This means that water analysis should come before filter-media selection.
Depending on the application, treatment approaches can include activated carbon, ion-exchange resins, selective adsorbents or membrane technologies. The appropriate solution depends on the actual water matrix and the required outlet concentration.
Why monitoring matters
Filter media have a finite adsorption capacity. As the material becomes loaded, PFAS can eventually begin to pass through the treatment stage, known as breakthrough.
For this reason, an effective PFAS treatment concept should consider not only initial removal performance, but also:
- expected media capacity
- sampling intervals
- breakthrough monitoring
- replacement or regeneration strategy
- management of PFAS-loaded media
The new monitoring requirements make these considerations increasingly important for long-term operation.
From regulation to practical treatment
The 2026 requirements represent a significant change in how PFAS are managed in European drinking water. Member States must now systematically monitor PFAS and report exceedances and relevant incidents to the European Commission. [European Commission, New EU rules limit PFAS in drinking water, https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/new-eu-rules-limit-pfas-drinking-water-2026-01-12_en]
For water-treatment operators, the practical process remains straightforward:
Analyse the water → understand the PFAS profile → select suitable treatment media → validate performance → monitor breakthrough.
At Klar2O, we combine water analysis with application-specific filtration solutions to evaluate which treatment approach is suitable for the respective water conditions.