Story perspectives

Environment Agency Rejects Thames Water PFOS Permit for Teddington Scheme

8/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Thames Water’s Teddington Direct River Abstraction scheme raised PFOS levels far above legal limits in pilot tests.
Pilot measurements recorded PFOS at 6.3 ng/L and 8.7 ng/L, up to 13-fold the limit.
The Environment Agency will require a new permit before construction after rejecting a 2019 version.
Local council, MP Munira Wilson, campaign group Solar and 31,000 petition signatories oppose the project.
Initial £350 million cost now projected to exceed £500 million.

1 of 1

Story summary

Thames Water’s Teddington Direct River Abstraction scheme raised PFOS levels far above legal limits in pilot tests.
Pilot measurements recorded PFOS at 6.3 ng/L and 8.7 ng/L, up to 13-fold the limit.
The Environment Agency will require a new permit before construction after rejecting a 2019 version.
Local council, MP Munira Wilson, campaign group Solar and 31,000 petition signatories oppose the project.
Initial £350 million cost now projected to exceed £500 million.