PFAS25 Introduced in Revised EU Water Legislation under Directive (EU) 2026/805
On 11 May 2026, Directive (EU) 2026/805 entered into force, revising key components of the EU water regulation, including the Environmental Quality Standards Directive (EQSD), and the Groundwater Directive (GWD). The update aligns pollutant lists and environmental standards with current scientific knowledge while strengthening controls on emerging contaminants such as PFAS, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and bisphenols. Member States are required to transpose the directive into national legislation by December 2027. The revision expands and updates pollutant lists, introduces stricter environmental quality standards, and enhances monitoring and reporting obligations across the EU. The directive further strengthens coordination between surface water, groundwater, and drinking water frameworks, thereby supporting integrated compliance strategies across the water cycle.
Transition from Single PFAS Compounds to PFAS25
Within the revised EQSD, the regulatory approach to PFAS has evolved from a single‑substance focus (PFOS) to a broader group‑based assessment. This has resulted in a PFAS25 list for surface water with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) included. This shift reflects the growing recognition of PFAS as persistent, ubiquitous pollutants of concern for both environmental and human health. The revised directive introduces an environmental quality standard (EQS) for PFAS25 in surface waters based on a relative potency factor (RPF) approach. In this framework, each PFAS is assigned a toxicity weighting relative to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which serves as the reference compound. The resulting combined EQS is set at 4.4 ng/L, expressed as PFOA equivalents. In parallel, groundwater quality standards under the revised GWD reference PFAS4 and the “Sum of PFAS” (currently PFAS20) defined under the Drinking Water Directive (DWD), thereby linking groundwater protection directly with drinking water safety requirements.
Eurofins Analytical Capacity
In response to the revised regulatory framework, Eurofins has expanded its PFAS analytical portfolio to include PFAS25 using our “ultralow” method. This method enables reporting at concentrations down to 30% of the EQS (upper bound sum, incl. LOQ), supporting monitoring aimed at natural waters where PFAS concentrations are very low. New analytical packages cover both PFAS25 and combined lists (PFAS31), integrating requirements from the EQSD, GWD and DWD (including Swedish and Danish extensions). All packages incorporate RPF‑weighted PFAS25 sums. Standard turnaround times (TAT) are 10 working days. Sampling requirements include 2 × 500 mL plus 1 × 100 mL
| Package Code | Name |
|---|---|
| PLWDA | PFAS 25 in water (WFD25) ultralow LOQ |
| PLWDB | PFAS 31 in water (WFD25, DWD20, SE21, DK22) ultralow LOQ |
Further information can be found in our search engine. For our PFAS25 and PFAS31 packages with standard LOQs, we refer to our earlier news publication.
For questions regarding PFAS, our analytical advisory service is available through customer support at 010-490 8110 or via email at sh-analys.miljo.se@etn.eurofins.com
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EQS/GWD directive ((EU) 2026/805)
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