Are PFAS Deals Rewriting the UK Water Playbook?

A UK utility adopts Puragen PFAS treatment as regulatory pressure grows, signaling a potential shift in sector strategy

9 Mar 2025

A UK water utility has signed a multi-site agreement with specialist firm Puragen to manage contamination from PFAS chemicals, marking a shift in how the sector responds to tightening water-quality expectations.

The move follows updated national guidance urging suppliers to improve monitoring and reduce PFAS levels before they pose health risks. Instead of installing new in-house treatment systems, the utility has opted for a service model under which Puragen will provide PFAS removal across several sites over multiple years. Sector analysts say the approach aligns with a broader trend of relying on external expertise as utilities prepare for higher standards while planning longer-term upgrades.

Puragen’s process focuses on identifying PFAS, capturing the chemicals through established filtration technologies, and ensuring the collected material is handled safely. A senior Puragen representative said the contract shows that “utilities are seeking practical ready to deploy responses to PFAS concerns and they want them quickly”. Observers say the arrangement may become a reference point as regulatory pressure increases.

Analysts at Maple Brown Abbott report that rising PFAS obligations are accelerating investment planning across the industry. They note that service-based programmes may help utilities close compliance gaps more quickly while creating space to design permanent facilities. One infrastructure analyst said PFAS was reshaping risk assessments for major suppliers, adding that early adopters could gain more operational stability as rules evolve.

Several challenges persist. Some experts warn that reliance on contracted treatment could delay decisions on longer-term infrastructure, while others point to uncertainty over technologies for permanent PFAS destruction. Yet many agree that pressure to act is driving near-term commitments, with regulators increasing scrutiny of contamination linked to industrial sources and older pollution.

The Puragen agreement highlights growing momentum behind PFAS remediation and may prompt other UK suppliers to explore similar arrangements. As the sector adjusts to heightened environmental expectations, the deal could help frame future investment plans and support efforts to strengthen public confidence in the safety of the national water supply.