The industry organization Svenskt Vatten is strongly critical of the fact that the legal process – where the municipality may now have to pay damages – does not even involve those who made money from selling PFAS. Furthermore, it may still be used.
– That PFAS is still allowed to be used, it’s crazy, there needs to be a ban, says CEO of Swedish Water Pär Dalhielm.
In Ronneby and Kallinge, the residents won the legal process in the Supreme Court. They can now receive damages for ingesting excessive amounts of PFAS (a collective name for highly fluorinated substances) – something that can lead to cancer and several other diseases.
It is the local water company, or the municipality that owns it, that is expected to foot the bill.
– Either you can take it via the tax slip, or you can take it via a fee. Once again, it will be the residents who have to bear the cost of what the polluter has released, says Pär Dalhielm, CEO of the industry organization Swedish Water.
“Are there those who have made money from PFAS”
Another thing that Pär Dalhielm criticizes is that companies that sold PFAS are not involved in the legal process. In Ronneby and Kallinge, the Defense had used large amounts of fire-fighting foam containing PFAS that leaked into the water source, but the producer who sold the fire-fighting foam is not responsible.
– It is a legal process between two affected parties. Those who pollute are not actually involved in the process.
– In part, it is someone who has put this on the market and made money from it. Then there is someone who put this in fire foam and made money from it. Then the Defense has used it which has served their business.
Now checks are carried out
Controls for PFAS were introduced in 2014. Sweden has since set a limit value of four nanograms per liter.
– All the regulations and limit values set by the authorities have been followed in this case, we have not violated any limit values. We believe that the new drinking water directive will help. The big problem in this case is to stop the influx of poisons, to stop using them in products. It just has to be banned, says Dalhielm.
At the EU level, Sweden, together with Germany and Denmark, has put forward a proposal for a total ban on PFAS within the Union. It can become a reality in 2026-2027 at the earliest.
Even if the substance is still allowed to be used, you can feel safe drinking the water, says Dalhielm.
– I can also take the opportunity to make everyone safe. We have a handle on PFAS these days, so it’s healthy to drink your water locally.