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  • PFAS 2025 Monitoring

PFAS 2025 water quality monitoring

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Introduction

Published 9 July 2026

Our PFAS 2025 Water Quality Monitoring report presents findings from an initial scoping study into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the 2025 SEPA water quality monitoring programme.

We measured 29 types of PFAS at 97 surface water sites and 37 groundwater sites. The PFAS chosen were based on legislative requirements, including PFAS listed in The Scotland River Basin District (Standards) Directions 2024 and substances of emerging concern.

What we found

PFAS were commonly detected in Scotland’s water environment at the locations we sampled for PFAS in 2025. This is similar to what other water environment monitoring programmes in Scotland and the UK have also reported. Overall, PFAS levels tended to be lower in groundwater than in surface waters. Early indications also suggest that the levels in Scotland are generally lower than those reported in England.

Elevated PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, an individual PFAS) was most frequently detected in rivers located near activities or sites with the potential to release PFAS into the environment.

At this early stage of the pilot programme, any comparison with relevant thresholds (as listed in The Scotland River Basin District (Standards) Directions 2024) can only be seen as indicative but no samples exceeded relevant environmental or groundwater standards based on the 2025 dataset.

What next

We are expanding our PFAS monitoring programme from 283 samples in 2025 to approximately 500 samples in 2026. As we continue monitoring, confidence in our findings will increase and improve our understanding of PFAS levels across Scotland’s water environment.

This evidence will help us take a targeted and proportionate approach to regulating these globally challenging chemicals.

Report and data