In a landmark ruling, the Swedish Armed Forces have been ordered to compensate Uppsala Water for contaminating local water supplies with PFAS, a hazardous chemical.

The compensation amounts to 37 million SEK, a fraction of the 215 million SEK initially demanded by Uppsala Water for current and future cleanup costs.

The decision by the Mark- och miljööverdomstolen (Land and Environmental Court of Appeal) is a result of PFAS pollution traced back to the use of firefighting foam at Ärna airfield.

Despite the ruling, future costs remain a concern, as starting January 1, 2026, stricter regulations could mean current levels of PFAS in drinking water exceed new safety thresholds.

The ruling can still be appealed to the Supreme Court.