Quality of water intended for human consumption ***I
TA-8-2019-0320 · P8_TA(2019)0320 · PE621.116
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
Parliament's amended version of a proposed directive recasting the rules on the quality of water intended for human consumption.¶¶ It requires Member States to ensure water is wholesome and clean, to provide universal access, and to apply a risk-based approach covering abstraction, supply and domestic distribution.¶¶ It sets quality standards, monitoring duties, public information rules, access measures for vulnerable groups, and penalties for breaches.¶¶¶ It gives the Commission power to adopt delegated acts on annexes, hygiene requirements for materials, and microplastics methodology.¶¶¶
Key points
- The directive aims to protect human health from contamination of water intended for human consumption and to provide universal access to such water.¶
- Member States must ensure water is free from micro-organisms, parasites and harmful substances, and meets minimum requirements in Annex I.¶¶¶
- Member States must assess water leakage levels and adopt national targets by 31 December 2022 to reduce leakage by 31 December 2030.¶
- A risk-based approach is required, comprising a hazard assessment, a supply risk assessment and a domestic distribution risk assessment.¶¶¶
- Hazard assessments must be carried out within 3 years of the transposition deadline and reviewed every 3 years.¶
- Supply risk assessments must be carried out by very large and large suppliers within 3 years, and by small suppliers within 6 years, of the transposition deadline.¶
- Domestic distribution risk assessments must be performed in priority premises within 3 years of the transposition deadline and reviewed every 3 years.¶¶
- Member States must take measures to improve universal access to water, including identifying people without access, setting up refill points, and promoting tap water.¶¶¶
- Member States must ensure consumers receive regular information on water quality, costs and consumption, at least once a year.¶¶
- Member States must set up data sets on access, risk assessments, exceedances and incidents, and share them with the Commission and EU agencies.¶¶¶
- The Commission must adopt delegated acts on minimum hygiene requirements for materials in contact with water within three years of entry into force.¶
- Member States must lay down effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties for infringements and notify the Commission within 2 years of entry into force.¶
Who is affected
- Member States, which must transpose the directive and ensure water quality, access and monitoring.¶
- Water suppliers, which must perform risk assessments, monitor water and inform consumers.¶¶¶
- Vulnerable and marginalised groups, for whom Member States must improve access to water.¶
- Owners of priority premises, who must carry out domestic distribution risk assessments.¶
- Manufacturers of materials in contact with water, which must meet hygiene requirements.¶
Figures and deadlines
- 31 December 2022: deadline for Member States to adopt national targets to reduce water leakage.¶
- 31 December 2030: deadline for reducing water leakage levels.
- 3 years after the transposition deadline: deadline for hazard assessments, supply risk assessments by large suppliers, and domestic distribution risk assessments.¶¶¶
- 6 years after the transposition deadline: deadline for supply risk assessments by small water suppliers.
- 10 m3 a day: threshold for water supplier definition and for hazard assessment coverage.¶¶
- 50 m3 per day or 250 people: threshold for very small water supplier.¶
- 500 m3 per day or 2 500 people: threshold for small water supplier.¶
- 5 000 m3 per day or 25 000 people: threshold for large water supplier.¶
Legal basis: Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.¶