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Adopted text

Surface water and groundwater pollutants

TA-9-2024-0358 · P9_TA(2024)0358 · PE740.884

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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 the proposed directive updates EU water law to tackle chemical pollution. It adds new pollutants to watch lists, sets quality standards, and strengthens monitoring and reporting. The text prioritises source-control measures, requires effect-based monitoring for estrogenic substances, and extends producer responsibility to fund monitoring. It also improves public access to justice and information on water status, and mandates cooperation on transboundary pollution incidents.

Key points

  1. Adds PFAS, pharmaceuticals, glyphosate, atrazine, and bisphenols to pollutant lists with quality standards.
  2. Requires watch lists for surface and groundwater to include micro-plastics and antimicrobial resistance genes once monitoring methods are identified.
  3. Mandates effect-based monitoring for estrogenic substances in surface waters for at least two years.
  4. Sets groundwater threshold values normally 10 times lower than surface water EQS, unless risk justifies otherwise.
  5. Requires Member States to prioritise source-control measures over end-of-pipe measures in programmes of measures.
  6. Establishes access to justice for NGOs and individuals to challenge decisions breaching water law.
  7. Requires immediate notification and cooperation on transboundary pollution incidents, including floods and droughts.
  8. Mandates public electronic access to monitoring data and EEA processing for reuse.
  9. Delegates to the Commission powers to update pollutant lists and quality standards via delegated acts.
  10. Requires the Commission to assess extended producer responsibility mechanisms for monitoring costs.
  11. Sets up a voluntary joint European monitoring facility to ease Member States' burdens.

Who is affected

  • Member States: must implement new monitoring, reporting, and pollution control measures.
  • Farmers: face new water quality standards and incentives for sustainable water use.
  • Industry: producers may bear costs for monitoring under extended producer responsibility.
  • Environmental NGOs and citizens: gain legal standing to challenge water decisions.

Figures and deadlines

  • 20 years: timeline for phasing out priority hazardous substances after listing.
  • 10 times lower: groundwater threshold values compared to surface water EQS.
  • 24-month monitoring period for watch list substances.
  • At least two monitoring stations per Member State for groundwater watch list.
  • 75% of parametric values triggers trend reversal measures.

Legal basis: Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union