World Health Day 2026: Rising concern over drinking water contaminants puts focus on everyday health risks

Stockholm, Sweden, April 7, 2026 - As people around the planet mark World Health Day growing attention is being drawn to the quality of drinking water and its impact on long-term health. In the United States alone some 58% of American households expressed concern about the safety of their tap water in a Water Quality Association survey published in its 2025 Consumer Insights Report.

Despite major advances in healthcare, a number of international surveys have shown consumers are increasingly concerned about the safety of their tap water, especially contaminants like PFAS. In the United Kingdom a Royal Society of Chemistry survey revealed that 9 in 10 people in the UK think it is ‘very important’ to effectively control levels of the group of ‘forever chemicals ‘in food, drinking water and the environment, while in France, the 2024 Kantar-Cieau surveyindicated nearly half (49%) of French consumers distrusted tap water safety efforts.

Health experts spotlighted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine have noted that water plays a central role in supporting brain function, immunity and metabolic processes, meaning long-term exposure to contaminants may have wider implications for public health.

Swedish water technology company Bluewater is among firms developing systems aimed at addressing these risks. Its purification solutions are designed to remove up to 99.8 percent of contaminants, including substances that can pass through conventional filtration methods.

“Access to clean, safe water should not be in question in modern society as it is a basic human right,” said Bluewater founder and CEO Bengt Rittri., an acclaimed Swedish ecopreneur. “We already have the technology to practicably removed most all harmful contaminants from tap water. The challenge is making those solutions widely available and easy to use in everyday life.”

Bluewater’s systems are based on its proprietary SuperiorOsmosis™ technology, an advanced form of reverse osmosis designed to improve purification efficiency while reducing water waste. The company also harnesses its own mineralisation process, known as LiquidRock®, to restore essential minerals removed during filtration.

The company’s products are currently used by consumers and businesses across Europe, Africa, North America and Asia, including in residential, workplace and hospitality settings.

The WHO has repeatedly highlighted the importance of safe drinking water as a foundation of public health, noting that science-driven solutions are most effective when adopted at scale.

Note to editors

Bluewater develops award-winning water purification and sustainable hydration solutions using its proprietary SuperiorOsmosis technology. Independent laboratory testing shows the technology removes microplastics and a wide range of contaminants, including PFAS.

Media contact

David Noble, Bluewater Chief Communications Officer, david.noble@bluewatergroup.com

About Bluewater

Founded in 2013 in Stockholm, Sweden, Bluewater aims to be the world’s most planet-friendly water purification and beverage company. The company designs hydration solutions for home, work, and public settings. Its products are used by consumers, hospitality businesses, venues, events, and educational institutions worldwide. Bluewater has received multiple international design and innovation awards, including two Fast Company World Changing Ideas Awards and a 2024 and 2025 GOOD DESIGN® Award. https://www.bluewatergroup.com