The French commune of Saint-Louis has implemented France's largest-ever ban on drinking tap water for vulnerable groups due to PFAS 'forever chemicals' contamination, reaching four times the recommended limit. The pollution, linked to firefighting foam used at Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport, highlights a widespread European issue, with new EU limits coming in 2026, raising concerns about human health, ecosystems, and who will bear the significant clean-up costs.
‘Even if we stop drinking we will be exposed’: A French region has banned tap water. Is it a warning for the rest of Europe?
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️The French commune of Saint-Louis has implemented France's largest-ever ban on drinking tap water for vulnerable groups due to PFAS 'forever chemicals' contamination, reaching four times the recommended limit. The pollution, linked to firefighting foam used at Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport, highlights a widespread European issue, with new EU limits coming in 2026, raising concerns about human health, ecosystems, and who will bear the significant clean-up costs.
Trending- 1 1960s: Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport begins using firefighting foams containing PFAS.
- 2 1964-2018: Chemical plant operates in Veneto, Italy, exposing 350,000 people to PFAS.
- 3 1988: Adra (residents' association) is created.
- 4 2017: Airport stops using PFAS foams; high levels of PFAS are first identified in government data.
- 5 2020: Sandra Wiedemann moves to the Saint-Louis area.
- 6 2023, October: Thierry Litzler learns about high PFAS levels in Saint-Louis water.
- 7 Recently: Local authority issues tap water prohibition for vulnerable groups in Saint-Louis.
- 8 Currently: Residents stockpile bottled water; investigations and remediation work are underway.
- 9 2026, January: EU will enforce new limits on PFAS levels in drinking water.
- Drinking water prohibited for 60,000 people in 11 communes of Saint-Louis.
- Residents relying on bottled water, leading to increased costs and supermarket demand.
- Concerns about long-term health impacts (cancer, immune dysfunction, reproductive issues, miscarriages, endometriosis).
- Threats to entire ecosystems due to PFAS buildup in aquatic organisms.
- Plans for new water treatment plants costing €20m, potentially raising water bills.
- Legal battles over who will pay for the clean-up.
- Increased public awareness and mobilization against PFAS contamination across Europe.
What: The French commune of Saint-Louis has banned tap water for vulnerable populations (children under two, pregnant/breastfeeding women, immunocompromised) due to PFAS 'forever chemicals' contamination, with levels four times the recommended limit. The contamination originated from firefighting foam used at Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport. This incident is seen as a precursor to wider issues across Europe, as new EU limits for PFAS in drinking water come into force in 2026.
When: 1960s (firefighting foam use began), 1964-2018 (chemical plant operation in Veneto), 1988 (Adra created), 2017 (firefighting foam use ended, high PFAS levels first identified), 2019 (public health data), 2020 (Sandra Wiedemann moved to area), October 2023 (Thierry Litzler heard about high PFAS levels), January (EU will start enforcing new limits), March (Bétharram order accepts responsibility), Wednesday (parliamentary inquiry report due), 2025-07-01 (article published), January 2026 (EU threshold for PFAS comes into force)
Where: Buschwiller (Saint-Louis, France), Saint-Louis (France), Basel (Switzerland), Jura mountains, Haut-Rhin region (France), Lyon region (France), Veneto (Italy), Antwerp (Belgium), North Carolina (US), Wisconsin (US), Arctic, France, Switzerland, Germany, UK, Europe
Why: PFAS chemicals, used for their non-stick and indestructible properties, have leached into groundwater from sources like firefighting foam, contaminating water supplies. Authorities were slow to act on identified contamination. The ban is a response to health risks and anticipation of new EU regulations. Activists are pushing for accountability and polluters to pay.
How: Firefighting foams containing PFAS were used at Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport for decades, with toxic residues filtering into the soil and groundwater. This led to high levels of PFAS in the drinking water. The local authority issued a prohibition letter and plans to install new water treatment plants. Residents are conducting their own blood tests and advocating for legal action against the airport.