PFAS: Dutch water suppliers face scrutiny as a third of tap water exceeds health guideline

Greenpeace Nederland published a nationwide analysis on 22 September 2026 showing that tap water for over a third of the Dutch population contains PFAS levels above the health advisory guideline set by RIVM, the national institute for public health and the environment.

The analysis covers 183 drinking water extraction locations across 4,083 postcode areas and is based on data from the Netherlands' ten drinking water suppliers. Greenpeace translated the findings into a public postcode checker developed with data analyst Albert ten Kate.

According to Greenpeace's breakdown:
• Contamination is concentrated in Noord-Holland, exceeding the RIVM guideline of 4.4 ng/l more than threefold around Zaandam and IJmuiden;
• Zaanstad recorded the highest concentration, at 14.3 ng/l;
• 32% of the population is exposed to PFAS levels above 1.5 times the guideline, with a further 4% between one and 1.5 times;
• The remaining 53% stay below half the guideline, mostly in groundwater-reliant provinces.

The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), the Netherlands Court of Audit, and the Union of Water Authorities have separately raised concerns about rising PFAS concentrations in Dutch water sources, Greenpeace's report notes. None of the measured levels breach the EU's binding limit of 100 ng/l, and RIVM and VEWIN continue to advise residents to keep drinking tap water.

Separately, Greenpeace is calling for a comprehensive ban on the production, discharge, use and import of PFAS, while cautioning against switching to bottled water, arguing the solution lies in stopping the chemical industry rather than in individual consumption choices.

Eline Bosman, Head of Greenpeace’s campaign team, told Greenpeace Nederland: “It is bizarre that there is poison in our tap water. It is a basic necessity, and the water coming out of the tap should be clean everywhere in the Netherlands.”