Advancing good practice in PFAS risk management for UK projects

Join this virtual conference to explore the latest developments and examine good practices in the risk management of PFAS in soil and water.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are likely the family of contaminants that has attracted the most media attention in recent years. This is a fast-moving field, and experience with PFAS risk assessment and remediation on UK sites is growing rapidly.

In recent months, the UK government has made further commitments to reduce the impact of PFAS. The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), published in December 2025, provides an overview of how the government will address PFAS. This includes a pledge for a PFAS plan in 2026 and states that the Environment Agency (EA) will provide advice, guidance, and tools to support PFAS management on contaminated sites.

With media attention remaining high and regulators beginning to implement regulations, “carrying on as usual” is no longer sufficient for UK practitioners dealing with PFAS-contaminated sites.

This virtual conference is unique in that it will not only discuss industry challenges from the past year but also examine whether existing good practices are effective and how the industry can improve further. Those who may benefit from attending include clients; developers; consultants; contractors, including remediation contractors; legal professionals; insurance professionals; local authorities; water companies; and academics.

Programme

10:00: Welcome and introduction
10:10: An update from a regulator - Angela Haslam, Senior Advisor, Land and Contamination Management Team, Environment Agency (Invited)
10:30: How to carry out risk assessment when there is limited toxicology data?
10:50: How to manage clients’ expectations in PFAS projects - Geoff Card, Owner, GB Card & Partners
11:10: Interactive discussion and Q&A
11:30: Coffee break
11:50: Casting a Wider Net: Fast HRMS Screening for PFAS Compounds in Environmental Matrices - John Quick, Principal Scientist, ALS
12:10: Latest on remediation of PFAS in water and soil for UK sites
12:30: Case study demonstrating how PFAS risk is managed
12:50: Is PFAS management getting any better since C819, Good practice guidance: some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in soil and the water environment? - Paul Nathanail, Technical Director, LQM; Joanne Kwan, Senior Research Manager, CIRIA
13:10: Interactive discussion and Q&A
13:30: Closing remarks

Why attend?

All attendees will qualify for a 20% discount off Good practice guidance: some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in soil and the water environment (C819) for a limited period. The promotional code will be communicated with the joining instructions pre-event.

• Hear what regulators have done regarding PFAS and their recent expectations
• Discuss how the latest government commitments will affect PFAS management in the UK
• Review the latest risk assessment methods, particularly laboratory analysis, and remediation approaches
• Explore how to assess PFAS risk with limited toxicology data
• Discuss whether the industry has improved since the first UK comprehensive PFAS guide (CIRIA Report C819, published in 2024) and how further improvements can be made
• Learn from case studies showing how PFAS is managed on UK sites
• Earn valuable CPD

Get involved in CIRIA's PFAS Forum

Levels of toxic Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in some UK fish are 26 times higher than European safety standards. Join our PFAS Forum to be part of the UK's first comprehensive guidance on risk assessment and management of PFAS in soil and water. Get in contact with Joanne Kwan for details.

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