French tap water banned in region due to ‘forever chemicals’
A tap at a village fountain in Auvergne with a sign indicating the water is not drinkable
Imagine turning on your tap, not for a refreshing drink, but with a gnawing fear that the water could be poisoning you and your family. This isn’t a dystopian novel; it’s the harsh reality for 60,000 residents in Saint-Louis, France, where a recent ban on tap water has sparked panic and raised a critical question: Is this a warning for the rest of Europe?
The quiet commune of Saint-Louis, near the Swiss city of Basel, recently became the site of France’s biggest-ever ban on drinking tap water. The reason? Dangerously high levels of PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, often dubbed “forever chemicals” due to their enduring presence in the environment and human body. Tests revealed PFAS levels in the local water supply were up to four times the recommended limit, prompting authorities to advise vulnerable groups – including children under two, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and those with weakened immune systems – to avoid tap water entirely.
The source of this alarming contamination has been traced back to firefighting foam used for decades at the nearby Basel Mulhouse Freiburg airport, ceasing only in 2017. These foams, once considered effective for tackling kerosene fires, left behind toxic residues that have leached into the groundwater, silently polluting the region’s drinking water supply for years, possibly even decades.
A Community Terrified and a Crisis Unfolding
For residents like Sandra Wiedemann, a mother breastfeeding her six-month-old son, the news was a profound shock. “Even if we stop drinking it we will be exposed to it and we can’t do anything,” she expressed, highlighting the helplessness many feel. The ban triggered a rush on supermarkets, with shelves quickly stripped bare of bottled water as families scrambled to protect their loved ones. Clement Luake, a veteran supermarket employee, described the demand as “massive”, with water pallet deliveries more than doubling.
The human cost is deeply concerning. PFAS are linked to a range of severe health issues, including cancer, immune dysfunction, and reproductive problems. While no official blood testing is underway, a residents’ association found concerning PFAS levels in samples from their members, with some among the most contaminated in France according to public health data. Many residents are left wondering about the long-term health effects, with some, like Sandra, questioning if their health problems could be linked to years of unknowingly drinking contaminated water.
Beyond human health, PFAS also pose a severe threat to entire ecosystems. These chemicals accumulate in the tissues of aquatic organisms, with examples across the globe showing impacts ranging from infected lesions in alligators to thyroid issues in seals.
A Glimpse into Europe’s Future?
The situation in Saint-Louis is far from an isolated incident. Experts and activists believe this is just the “tip of the PFAS iceberg” for Europe. The continent is riddled with over 23,000 sites contaminated with PFAS/b>, either in water, soil, or living organisms, according to the Forever Pollution Map. Crucially, more than 2,300 of these sites already exceed the new, stricter EU limits on PFAS levels that will become legally enforceable in January 2026.
The turmoil in Saint-Louis is being seen as a preview of what could unfold across the continent. France alone has 34 communes where drinking water already exceeds these new EU limits, and in the Lyon region, a staggering 160,000 people in 50 towns have been drinking water above the new thresholds. Similar alarming situations have been reported in Italy and Belgium.
Adding to the frustration is the delayed response from authorities. Records suggest high levels of PFAS were identified in Saint-Louis’s water as early as 2017, yet the information wasn’t acted upon for years, leading residents to feel betrayed.
Who Will Pay for the Clean-Up?
Addressing this widespread contamination will be an immense and costly undertaking. In Saint-Louis, new water treatment plants are estimated to cost €20 million to install, with an additional €600,000 annually to run. Residents face the prospect of rising water bills to foot part of this expense. The crucial question of who should bear the ultimate financial responsibility – the polluters, the state, or the taxpayers – is at the heart of an escalating battle.
As the EU’s new regulations loom, the pressure is mounting on authorities across Europe to disclose information about PFAS contamination, prioritise public health, and hold polluters accountable. The fight for clean water in Saint-Louis is a powerful symbol, demonstrating that communities are mobilising and demanding action. “We are not isolated,” says Bruno Wollenschneider, head of a residents’ association, highlighting a growing pan-European movement against these persistent and pervasive chemicals.