Unveiling the Hidden Threat: A Race Against Time to Identify the Source of Carcinogenic PFAS in Cumbria and Lancashire Waters
A recent investigation has revealed a toxic pollution crisis in Cumbria and Lancashire, with high levels of the banned cancer-causing chemical PFAS detected in rivers and groundwater at 25 sites. This contamination, spanning a vast area, was uncovered by Watershed Investigations and The Guardian after a freedom of information request revealed alarming concentrations of PFAS in Environment Agency samples taken in January 2025.
PFAS, known as "forever chemicals" due to their long degradation periods, are widely used in consumer products and linked to severe health issues. One site recorded PFAS levels at 3,840ng/l, alongside elevated levels of other banned PFAS compounds. Twenty-five sites exceeded the drinking water guideline limits of 100ng/l for the combined total of 48 PFAS compounds.
The affected area boasts outstanding natural beauty and multiple wildlife protections. A resident whose business's private well was polluted discovered the contamination in November 2021 after being "unofficially" informed by an Environment Agency representative. They immediately stopped drinking the water, as the agency had been testing the well for 35 years due to "chemical drift" concerns.
The resident expressed frustration at the lack of support from the agency and the council, which refused to test for PFAS. Despite efforts, the source of pollution remains unknown, leaving the resident and the community vulnerable.
Westmorland and Furness Council acknowledged receiving information about the contaminated supply in late 2021 and advised the business to switch to mains water. They assured compliance with statutory requirements and safe water supply, but the resident's experience highlights the challenges of addressing PFAS contamination.
The Environment Agency identified elevated PFAS levels in 2022 through its national surveillance monitoring program, emphasizing the responsibility of local authorities for private water supply protection. They alerted the private borehole owner and advised contacting the local council, informing relevant parties in 2025.
Possible sources of PFAS contamination, as per the Environment Agency's March 2025 report, include a paper mill in Beetham, where PFAS use is documented. Sites where PFAS-contaminated paper pulp may have been spread on land are also flagged as potential hotspots.
The mill's operator entered administration in June 2025, with responsibility for earlier operations falling on the former company's administrators. The new operator, Pelta Medical Papers, assures no PFAS-based chemical use or PFAS-containing paper production since the acquisition.
The Environment Agency's report also identified historical and operational landfills, sewage treatment works, fire stations, and caravan park discharges as potential PFAS sources. The government's new PFAS action plan aims to tighten controls, including contaminated land guidance, a consultation on statutory limits in drinking water, and tougher industrial site rules.
However, Water UK advocates for a complete ban on PFAS, warning of falling behind European nations in banning these substances and holding manufacturers accountable for clean-up costs. Chloe Alexander, the chemicals policy lead at Wildlife and Countryside Link, criticized the government's plan as "a roadmap to nowhere," lacking binding phaseouts, clear timetables, and commitments to match the EU's proposed ban.
With approximately 33,000 private water supplies in England, the vulnerability of some supplies to environmental pollution and droughts is a growing concern. The DWI report underscores the need for urgent action to protect public health and transition towards PFAS-free alternatives.
