Metrowater says it can't remove forever chemicals from lakes
Metrowater said the city's current treatment infrastructure cannot remove these chemicals, scientifically known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
In an affidavit, the board said that PFAS enter water bodies through everyday items — especially fast food wrappers, instant noodle cups, and baking paper — whose chemical coatings break down in landfills. The resulting leachate seeps into groundwater and lakes, contaminating urban water systems.
While these substances are known for their non-stick, oil-resistant properties, their extreme chemical stability also makes them nearly impossible to break down through conventional treatment.
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Metrowater said that its plants meet Indian drinking water standards under IS:10500, but added that these norms do not cover PFAS. More importantly, they said that during treatment, certain PFAS precursors may convert into detectable PFAS forms, raising levels in treated water higher than the raw input.
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Globally, advanced economies have begun investing in high-end solutions such as plasma reactors and advanced oxidation systems to degrade PFAS, but Metrowater said such technologies are expensive and still unproven at scale. Laboratory results often don't translate to real-world success, where wastewater is filled with organic matter and other compounds that interfere with treatment.
Detection itself is a hurdle. PFAS and their precursors require specialized equipment such as high-resolution mass spectrometry, which is costly and not widely available in India. Without clear regulations or national guidelines, utilities like Metrowater are operating in a scientific vacuum.
Instead of downstream fixes, the board called for preventive measures — stopping PFAS at the source. That means controlling industrial and packaging uses before they enter the waste stream.
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