If you live in this provincial town, you should be careful about the water you drink. The analyzes are very bad.
Beware of tap water… According to the results of a Radio France survey, 43% of tap water samples tested in mainland France contain “eternal pollutants”, in other words chemical substances that are particularly dangerous for health. If the law plans, in 2026, to oblige cities to monitor this pollution, some municipalities are already in the red.
“Perennial pollutants,” also called PFAS, are everywhere. In fact, these molecules are found in non-stick pans, food packaging and even waterproof clothing. These have been used in industry since the 1950s and do not decompose in nature, hence their nickname. The investigation was carried out via sampling near factories, airports, fire stations or waste treatment centers, all considered potential emitters of PFAS. The results are clear: almost half of the samples contain traces of these chemical substances.
Among the 89 samples analyzed, five present worrying levels. In Auxerre, Lille, Saint-Jean-de-Losne, Saint-Vit and Déols, PFAS levels are high. But that’s not all. Three other municipalities in France already exceed the legal limits which will come into force in 2026. In Martres-Tolosane as well as in Saint-Symphorien-d’Ozon.
But it’s a completely different French city that is currently blowing up the meters. Analyzes showed a level of 187 nanograms per liter, almost double the authorized threshold. Where? In Cognac. However, no alert was issued to residents. Local authorities say they have not detected traces of these pollutants in their previous analyses, although they have promised to carry out further checks.
This contamination could have several origins. The Charente River, which crosses the region, is home to several companies upstream that use these substances, including a paper mill and a former metal processing workshop. There is also the firefighter training center in Jarnac, which uses firefighting foam loaded with PFAS. These products could seep into groundwater and contaminate water. And if, in July 2024, the Regional Health Agency had already sounded the alarm, fearing pollution of the groundwater in the region, no particular measures have since been put in place. This case clearly illustrates the difficulties in managing the presence of these “eternal pollutants”.
