PFAS ⁠and tap water

Is my tap water safe?

Your tap water meets all the strict legal requirements and is safe to drink. At the same time, we are exposed to PFAS through the air, our food and other products. That is why the RIVM recommends reducing our overall exposure to PFAS as much as possible. Waternet is committed to helping achieve this, ensuring that clean tap water can continue to be something we can rely on in the future.

Every day, research institute Het Waterlaboratorium tests the quality of tap water for Waternet and other organisations. They check our water for more than a hundred substances, such as bacteria, metals, medicines and PFAS.

We measure most substances in our water in micrograms, but PFAS levels are so low that we measure them in nanograms. To give you an idea of just how small a nanogram is:

• 1 milligram = 0.001 gram
• 1 microgram = 0.000001 gram
• 1 nanogram = 0.000000001 gram

One nanogram per litre is like trying to find a single drop of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Even if these tiny amounts of PFAS are left behind after treatment, our tap water still comfortably meets the very strict requirements of the Dutch Drinking Water Act and the European Drinking Water Directive.

Browse our water quality reports (in Dutch)

Clean tap water starts at the source 

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) do not belong in the environment, and certainly not in our tap water sources. That is why we are working with other Dutch and European water companies to push for a complete European ban on PFAS. Our aim is to prevent these substances from entering our tap water sources in the first place. The less PFAS we need to remove during treatment, the easier it is to safeguard the quality of our tap water while keeping tap water costs down. 

What is Waternet doing about PFAS?  

• We currently use activated carbon to remove PFAS from tap water. Activated carbon is a fine-grained material made from wood, coal or coconut shells. It works a bit like a sponge: substances such as PFAS, pesticides and traces of medicines get trapped in it. This helps remove unwanted substances from tap water. Over time, the 'sponge' becomes saturated and needs to be replaced or cleaned. We are also working on other treatment methods, for example technology using membranes. 
• Additionally, we conduct research and work with experts to identify the most effective measures for tackling PFAS. 

How do PFAS enter tap water sources?

PFAS are released during the manufacture and use of substances and products containing PFAS. They can also be released through the use of pesticides. From there, PFAS can enter the environment through the air or wastewater and eventually end up in our tap water sources. PFAS are also used in products, such as firefighting foams, non-stick pans and raincoats, for example. In some cases, PFAS are discharged into rivers by industrial companies. Waternet uses water from the river Rhine to produce tap water. We closely monitor our tap water sources and thoroughly treat the water. This ensures that our tap water remains clean and safe to drink.

Find out more about PFAS

The RIVM conducts research into PFAS. Visit the RIVM website to find out more about:

• What are PFAS? (You are leaving this website)
• PFAS in tap water (in Dutch) (You are leaving this website)
• Health and environmental risks of PFAS (in Dutch) (You are leaving this website)