A shocking discovery has been made in the beautiful landscapes of Cumbria and Lancashire, where a series of toxic hotspots has been uncovered. The culprit? A dangerous chemical known as Pfos, a member of the 'forever chemicals' family, has been detected in alarming concentrations across 25 sites, including rivers and groundwater.
But here's where it gets controversial... Pfos, a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (Pfas), can take hundreds or even thousands of years to degrade, earning its 'forever' status. And its presence in these natural environments is not only a threat to wildlife and habitats but also to human health, as it has been linked to various serious illnesses, including cancer.
The contamination was first revealed through a freedom of information request, which exposed high levels of Pfos in Environment Agency samples taken in January 2025. One site even recorded a Pfos concentration of 3,840ng/l in groundwater, alongside other banned Pfas compounds, all well above the safe drinking water guideline limits.
And this is the part most people miss... the affected area is not just any ordinary place; it's an area of outstanding natural beauty, with multiple protections in place to safeguard its wildlife and habitats. Yet, despite these safeguards, the contamination has spread, impacting not only the environment but also the residents who rely on private water supplies.
One resident, whose business's private well was polluted, shared their harrowing experience. They discovered the contamination in November 2021, after being unofficially informed by an individual at the Environment Agency. The resident stopped drinking the water immediately but was left without any support or guidance from the authorities.
"When I contacted the agency, they offered no help. I was directed to the local council, who said they wished I hadn't been told, as they couldn't even test for Pfas. There was no help, no advice, no support of any kind," the resident said.
The resident's attempts to find the source of the pollution were met with little interest from the council, leaving them in the dark for nearly five years.
Westmorland and Furness council, however, maintains that it has been supporting the affected business to ensure compliance and a safe water supply. The Environment Agency, on the other hand, stresses that the responsibility for protecting users of private water supplies lies with local authorities, and it was the agency that alerted the private borehole owner and advised them to contact the council.
Possible sources of Pfos contamination, as identified in the Environment Agency's March 2025 report, include a paper mill in Beetham, where Pfas have been known to be used. Other potential hotspots include sites where Pfas-contaminated paper pulp may have been spread on land, as well as historical and operational landfills, sewage treatment works, fire stations, and discharges from caravan parks.
The government's new Pfas action plan, published on Tuesday, proposes tighter controls on these chemicals, including new guidance on contaminated land and a consultation on statutory limits in drinking water. But is this enough? Water UK believes Pfas should be banned altogether, arguing that the UK is falling behind other European nations in tackling these harmful substances.
Chloe Alexander, the chemicals policy lead at Wildlife and Countryside Link, describes the government's plan as "a roadmap to nowhere," highlighting the lack of binding phaseouts, a clear timetable, and a commitment to match the EU's proposed Pfas ban.
With approximately 33,000 private water supplies in England, the vulnerability of these sources is becoming increasingly evident as the climate changes. More supplies are running dry during droughts, while others are being hit by environmental pollution, such as the presence of Pfas.
Hannah Evans from the environmental charity Fidra emphasizes the urgency of the situation: "This is yet another case demonstrating just how prevalent Pfas pollution is and the real-world consequences. Persistent chemicals should not be in our drinking water, our food, or our bodies. We need to take action now and transition the UK towards Pfas-free alternatives, many of which are already available."
