On 26 January 2026 the Environment Agency published new research and guidance on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that could lead to stricter environmental quality recommendations for ‘forever chemicals’ in source waters affecting Washington, Tyne and Wear.
PFAS are a large family of persistent chemicals used in many everyday products — including non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing and firefighting foams — and they do not break down readily in the environment. The EA’s guidance recommends a move towards assessing the ‘sum of PFAS’ and indicates that the trigger levels for action may be lowered to reflect long-term health risks identified in recent research.
Northumbrian Water, which manages the Washington supply zone, will need to assess whether its current monitoring and treatment arrangements meet the proposed standards. The research brief notes water companies may face capital expenditure if advanced treatment (for example, granular activated carbon or ion exchange) is required, but it does not document a confirmed company decision specific to Washington.
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) is expected to consider aligning its tiered guidance with the Environment Agency’s findings; the research indicates changes to monitoring and testing cycles are likely to be introduced in the 2026/27 financial year.
It is not yet known whether any required upgrades would lead to higher bills for local customers — funding and cost-recovery decisions would be subject to future regulatory and price-review processes. The research brief recommends that reporters request recent PFAS test results for Washington (postcodes NE37 and NE38) from Northumbrian Water to determine whether local raw or treated water concentrations would exceed the newly proposed thresholds.
