Saudi Arabia's PFAS Challenge - Early Awareness and Action Matter

I wasn't fully aware of the serious challenges PFAS posed until I saw how much of Europe has been impacted by this contamination. The depth of PFAS issues there—ranging from polluted drinking water to health implications—made me wonder: How safe is Saudi Arabia from these "forever chemicals"?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination is a secret problem because these chemicals don’t break down naturally. They stay in the environment, build up in water supplies, and, over time, can accumulate in our bodies. In Saudi Arabia, where our water resources are already limited and heavily managed, we must be vigilant. PFAS could pose a unique threat to our desalination systems and groundwater, which supply most of the country’s water.

PFAS are increasingly drawing global concern due to their persistence in the environment and their potential health risks. This blog post will walk you through the basics of PFAS, how they affect Saudi Arabia, the approach, and the steps needed to better manage these pollutants.

Seeing the impacts in Europe has highlighted a few important things for us in Saudi Arabia:

1. We need to start early: Europe’s response has been largely reactive, dealing with contamination after it became widespread. Saudi Arabia has a chance to act proactively, setting up measures to avoid a similar crisis. This means researching PFAS levels, pinpointing sources of contamination, and upgrading treatment facilities as needed to filter these chemicals out.

2. Awareness is key: Many people are unaware of PFAS and the risks associated with them. Public awareness campaigns could help people understand the potential health risks of PFAS and support future policies to address the issue.

3. A roadmap for regulation: Saudi Arabia could look to European standards as a reference point for setting acceptable PFAS levels in water. By setting strong regulations now, we can create a foundation that keeps these chemicals under control.

 "While Saudi Arabia may not yet have the same level of PFAS contamination seen in Europe, this is a moment to act and avoid the long-term impacts they’re facing. The time to understand, discuss, and address PFAS in Saudi Arabia is now—before it’s too late."

Collaborative Efforts and Future Action

In Saudi Arabia, Environmental authorities, organizations, and research institutions shall actively take part in addressing environmental challenges, including the emerging issue of PFAS contamination.

The authorities, institutions, and organizations focusing on environmental protection, water management, and pollution control that may play a role in PFAS research and regulation:

I believe MEWA oversees water quality standards and is likely to take a leading role in monitoring and managing PFAS in water sources. NCEC is the regulatory authority focused on enforcing environmental laws and standards.

The NWC is responsible for managing the Kingdom’s water distribution and wastewater treatment infrastructure. They may work in coordination with NCEC and MEWA to improve treatment processes that address emerging contaminants like PFAS.

Once we have significant data, concerned authorities should create a detailed contamination map of Saudi Arabia, which would show areas where PFAS levels are of concern. This map could help prioritize cleanup efforts, guide future regulations, and inform the public about potential risks in their regions. By identifying contamination hotspots, the governing authorities can more effectively allocate resources and monitor high-risk areas, including industrial zones and desalination facilities.

PFAS Explained

AECOM Publication on PFAS