Forever Chemicals in the Thames: A Canary in the Coal Mine The recent pilot project for Thames Water's drought mitigation scheme has exposed a stark reality: our pursuit of "water recycling" and "innovative solutions" often comes at a steep environmental cost.
Levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (Pfos), a toxic "forever chemical," surged to 13 times the legal limit during testing, breaching current standards for surface waters.
Thames Water's own technical notes paint a damning picture. The company claims its water recycling system will not harm the river or its habitats, but the pilot project's results tell a different story.