World
Drinking water depollution: report estimates annual cost of €1.3–5.7 billion
A report published on 31 July 2026 by an interministerial inspection mission mandated by several French government ministries presents four scenarios for removing pesticide residues and PFAS from drinking water. PFAS—synthetic organofluorine compounds known as "eternal pollutants" because they persist indefinitely in the environment—number somewhere between 6 and 7 million distinct types. According to Le Monde, these four scenarios represent annual cost overruns of between €1.3 billion and €5.7 billion, depending on the chosen ambition level. The detailed breakdown of each scenario and funding arrangements remain undisclosed.