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The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has responded to the recent blog articles that we have published on the subject of PFAS “forever” chemicals and other dangerous contaminants in the mains water.

It is the firm belief of Scott Jenkins Water Softeners (SJWS) that drinking water standards in Britain leave a lot to be desired, with British consumers being largely unaware of the dangers to health, which they are being exposed to on a daily basis.

For some time, we have been highlighting perceived shortcomings in national water policy amid concerns raised by eminent organisations and leading consumer groups about the quality of our drinking water.

We have drawn attention to a growing number of health-related incidents, which are linked to dangerous levels of harmful bacteria in our rivers and waterways. Of arguably even greater concern, we have alerted our readers to the mounting evidence of the widespread threat posed to public health from PFAS – due to its presence in many everyday household items – as well as in our drinking water.

Short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – PFAS are a group of synthetic organofluorine chemical compounds, of which there are said to be seven million in existence.

PFAS came into use after the invention of Teflon in 1938, to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. They are now used in a wide variety of products, including waterproof fabrics such as nylon, as well as shampoo, feminine hygiene products, mobile phone screens, wall paint, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, heat-resistant non-stick cooking surfaces, such as Teflon, and throughout the cosmetic industry.

Many PFAS, also known as PFOS and PFOA, pose health and environmental concerns because they are persistent organic pollutants or “forever chemicals” – first described as such in a 2018 Washington Post article. They have half-lives of over eight years, due to a carbon-fluorine bond, which is one of the strongest in organic chemistry.

Extremely pervasive, they also move through soils and bioaccumulate in fish and wildlife, which are then eaten by humans. Residues are now commonly found in rain and drinking water, which is of particular concern to us at Scott Jenkins Water Softeners.

Responsibility of water companies to test for PFAS-related chemicals

The DWI, the Government body set up to regulate the public water companies in England and Wales, has defended its role in monitoring water safety, coming out in support of the quality of our national drinking water.

Dr Jo Herschan, a DWI Inspector, has been in touch with SJWS to say that drinking water quality in England and Wales was “excellent and amongst the best in the world.” And she claimed that “an increasing volume of misleading and incorrect material circulating on the internet is posing a serious risk to consumer confidence in drinking water and, in turn, public health.”

Water companies had a responsibility for testing drinking water in England and Wales, said Dr Herschan. They were required to test for 48 PFAS-related chemicals and report these back to the Inspectorate. Since October 2021, over one million analyses had been performed by water companies for PFAS, she explained “driven by requirements set out by the Inspectorate.”

Stretching back to 2009, Dr Herschan revealed that the DWI had published a series of information letters and guidance to water companies.

Each year, the Inspectorate publishes a report on drinking water, with a separate report for England and Wales. From 2022 onwards, specifically on the subject of “forever chemicals”, she said the Inspectorate had increased “the requirements for companies to monitor and manage risks from PFAS.”

The 2023 data was released recently.

In response, Scott Jenkins, the founder of Scott Jenkins Water Softeners said: “Whilst it is encouraging to see the DWI requiring PFAS testing in water, I don’t believe they are being nearly tough enough in holding water companies to account.

“The fact that these chemicals are even present in drinking water is sufficient reason for consumers to be concerned. The case for avoiding drinking neat tap water is now stronger than ever.”

Scott added: “Filtering drinking water is essential to protect public health – this is no time for complacency.

“We will continue to strongly advocate the use of drinking water filters in the home environment, which can remove an overwhelming number of harmful contaminants in the water supply.