Unveiling the Hidden Threat: The Race to Identify the Source of Carcinogenic PFAS in Cumbria and Lancashire Waters
A recent investigation has revealed a series of toxic pollution hotspots across Cumbria and Lancashire, with alarming levels of the banned cancer-causing chemical PFAS detected in rivers and groundwater at 25 sites. This discovery, made by Watershed Investigations and The Guardian, highlights a widespread environmental crisis that demands immediate attention.
The contamination, spanning a vast area, was brought to light through a freedom of information request that uncovered high 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 have been linked to severe health issues.
At one site, groundwater contained an astonishing 3,840 ng/l of PFAS, alongside elevated levels of other banned PFAS compounds. Twenty-five sites recorded PFAS concentrations far exceeding the drinking water guideline limits of 100 ng/l for the combined total of 48 PFAS compounds.
This contamination affects an area renowned for its natural beauty and wildlife protections, underscoring the severity of the situation.
A resident whose business's private well was polluted shared their harrowing experience. They were informed in November 2021, after an individual at the Environment Agency "unofficially" shared the news. The resident immediately stopped drinking the water, having been aware of the agency's 35-year-long concerns about "chemical drift" in the groundwater.
Despite reaching out to the agency, the resident received no assistance. The resident was then directed to Westmorland and Furness Council, which was seemingly uninterested in identifying the pollution source. The council's response was dismissive, stating that the situation appeared to be an outlier and offering no further support.
Westmorland and Furness Council acknowledged receiving information about the contaminated supply from the Environment Agency in late 2021 and advised the business to switch to mains water. They assured compliance with statutory requirements and the provision of safe water, but the resident remains concerned.
The Environment Agency identified elevated PFAS levels in the area in 2022 through its national surveillance monitoring program. However, they emphasized that local authorities bear responsibility for protecting private water supply users. The agency alerted the private borehole owner and advised them to contact the local council, also informing relevant bodies like the UK Health Security Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate in 2025.
The Environment Agency's March 2025 report identified potential sources of PFAS contamination, including a paper mill in Beetham, where PFAS were previously used. The mill's operator went into administration in June 2025, and responsibility for earlier operations now lies with the former company's administrators.
The new operator, Pelta Medical Papers, assures that no PFAS-based chemicals have been used on-site since the acquisition. They emphasize that any PFAS-containing paper products were manufactured under the previous legal entity and ownership, adhering to regulatory guidance and permit conditions at the time.
The Environment Agency's report also identified historical landfills, sewage treatment works, fire stations, and caravan park discharges as potential sources of PFAS.
The government's new PFAS action plan, published on February 3, 2026, proposes tightening controls on these chemicals. It includes new guidance on contaminated land, a consultation on statutory limits for PFAS levels in drinking water, and potentially stricter rules for industrial sites. However, Water UK advocates for a complete ban on PFAS, warning that the UK risks falling behind other European nations in addressing this issue.
Critics, like Chloe Alexander from Wildlife and Countryside Link, label the government's plan as "a roadmap to nowhere," lacking binding phaseouts, clear timelines, and commitments to match the EU's proposed PFAS ban. With approximately 33,000 private water supplies in England, the vulnerability of these supplies is becoming increasingly apparent, especially with climate change.
Hannah Evans from the environmental charity Fidra emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating that persistent chemicals like PFAS should not be present in drinking water, food, or the human body. She calls for a swift transition to PFAS-free alternatives, many of which are already available, to protect public health and the environment.
