{"id":17675,"date":"2022-09-17T11:40:03","date_gmt":"2022-09-17T11:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=17675"},"modified":"2022-09-25T14:07:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-25T14:07:32","slug":"drinking-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/drinking-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Drinking Water [EU]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/drinking-water\/#Drinking_water_%E2%80%94_essential_quality_standards\" title=\"Drinking water \u2014 essential quality standards\">Drinking water \u2014 essential quality standards<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/drinking-water\/#Key_Points\" title=\"Key Points\">Key Points<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/drinking-water\/#Exemptions_from_the_directive\" title=\"Exemptions from the directive\">Exemptions from the directive<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/drinking-water\/#Water-quality_standards\" title=\"Water-quality standards\">Water-quality standards<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/drinking-water\/#Risk_assessment\" title=\"Risk assessment\">Risk assessment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/drinking-water\/#Materials_coming_into_contact_with_drinking_water\" title=\"Materials coming into contact with drinking water\">Materials coming into contact with drinking water<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/drinking-water\/#Access_information_monitoring_and_evaluation\" title=\"Access, information, monitoring and evaluation\">Access, information, monitoring and evaluation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/drinking-water\/#Pre-2023_Directives\" title=\"Pre-2023 Directives\">Pre-2023 Directives<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/drinking-water\/#Application_Background\" title=\"Application &amp; Background\">Application &amp; Background<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/drinking-water\/#MAIN_DOCUMENT\" title=\"MAIN DOCUMENT\">MAIN DOCUMENT<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Drinking_water_%E2%80%94_essential_quality_standards\"><\/span>Drinking water \u2014 essential quality standards<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Directive (EU) 2020\/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast)<\/p>\n<p>It seeks to introduce revised rules to protect human health from the contamination of water intended for human consumption by ensuring that it is \u2018wholesome and clean\u2019, It also seeks to introduce hygienic requirements for materials in contact with drinking water, such as pipes, as well as:<\/p>\n<p>improve access to water intended for human consumption;<br \/>\nintroduce a cost-effective risk-based approach to monitoring water quality.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Points\"><\/span>Key Points<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Water intended for human consumption is defined as:<\/p>\n<p>all water, either in its original state or after treatment, intended for drinking, cooking, food preparation or other domestic purposes in both public and private premises, regardless of its origin and whether it is supplied from a distribution network, supplied from a tanker or put into bottles or containers, including spring waters;<br \/>\nall water used in any food business for the manufacture, processing, preservation or marketing of products or substances intended for human consumption.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exemptions_from_the_directive\"><\/span>Exemptions from the directive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The directive does not apply to:<\/p>\n<p>natural mineral waters (but not spring water) as referred to in Directive 2009\/54\/EC (see summary); or<br \/>\nwaters which are medicinal products as defined in Directive 2001\/83\/EC (see summary).<br \/>\nIn addition, EU countries may exempt:<\/p>\n<p>water intended exclusively for those purposes for which authorities are satisfied that quality has no influence, either directly or indirectly, on consumer health;<br \/>\nwater for human consumption from an individual supply providing an average of less than 10 m3 a day or serving fewer than 50 persons, unless the water is supplied as part of a commercial or public activity.<br \/>\nMaritime vessels that desalinate water, carry passengers and act as water suppliers are not subject to some aspects of the directive, including treatment chemicals and filters.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Water-quality_standards\"><\/span>Water-quality standards<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>EU countries must ensure that water intended for human consumption is \u2018wholesome and clean\u2019. It must be free from any micro-organisms and parasites and from any substances which, in numbers or concentrations, are a potential danger to human health. Specifically, it must meet the following minimum requirements.<\/p>\n<p>Microbiological parameters. Water must be completely free from:<br \/>\nIntestinal enterococci; and<br \/>\nE.coli;<br \/>\nChemical parameters. Quantities of chemical substances must not exceed the following values (Note: g\/l = grammes per litre, mg\/l = milligrammes per litre, and \u03bcg\/l = microgrammes per litre):<br \/>\nAcrylamide 0.10 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nAntimony 10 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nArsenic 10 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nBenzene 1.0 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nBenzo(a)pyrene 0.010 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nBisphenol A 2.5 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nBoron 1.5 mg\/l<br \/>\nBromate 10 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nCadmium 5.0 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nChlorate 0.25 mg\/l<br \/>\nChlorite 0.25 mg\/l<br \/>\nChromium 25 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nCopper 2.0 mg\/l<br \/>\nCyanide 50 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\n1,2-dichloroethane 3.0 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nEpichlorohydrin 0.10 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nFluoride 1.5 mg\/l<br \/>\nHaloacetic acids (HAAs) 60 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nLead 5 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nMercury 1.0 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nMicrocystin-LR 1.0 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nNickel 20 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nNitrate 50 mg\/l<br \/>\nNitrite 0.50 mg\/l<br \/>\nPesticides 0.10 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nPesticides total 0.50 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nPFAS total 0.50 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nSum of PFAS 0.10 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 0.10 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nSelenium 20 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nTetrachloroethene and Trichloroethene 10 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nTrihalomethanes total 100 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nUranium 30 \u03bcg\/l<br \/>\nVinyl chloride 0,50 \u03bcg\/l.<br \/>\nParameters relevant for the risk assessment of domestic distribution systems (e.g. pipework, tanks). These are:<br \/>\nLegionella &lt; 1,000 CFU*\/l<br \/>\nLead 10 \u03bcg\/l.<\/p>\n<p>Indicator parameters. This includes the presence of aggressive or corrosive agents. If these are above the limits set out in the directive, EU countries must assess whether this non-compliance poses any risk to human health and take remedial action.<br \/>\nEU countries must also comply with the directive\u2019s other rules.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Risk_assessment\"><\/span>Risk assessment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>EU countries ensure that risk assessment and risk management of the catchment areas for abstraction points of drinking water and the supply systems are carried out, as well as a risk assessment of domestic distribution systems, and whether the potential risks affect the quality of water, including identifying hazards in the system and applying control measures.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Materials_coming_into_contact_with_drinking_water\"><\/span>Materials coming into contact with drinking water<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>EU countries ensure that materials used for water abstraction, treatment, storage or distribution coming into contact with water do not:<\/p>\n<p>directly or indirectly compromise human health;<br \/>\nadversely affect the water\u2019s colour, odour or taste;<br \/>\nenhance microbial growth;<br \/>\nleach contaminants into the water at higher levels than considered necessary for the intended purpose of the material.<br \/>\nAdditional testing methodologies and procedures for accepting authorised starting substances and final materials (by 12 January 2024), as well as lists of authorised starting substances (by 12 January 2025) will be phased in.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Access_information_monitoring_and_evaluation\"><\/span>Access, information, monitoring and evaluation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>EU countries must:<\/p>\n<p>improve or maintain access to drinking water for all, in particular for vulnerable and marginalised groups;<br \/>\nensure that adequate, up-to-date information on drinking water is available;<br \/>\nset up by 12 January 2029 a data set of measures taken to improve access to and promote the use of water intended for human consumption;<br \/>\nset up by 12 July 2027 a data set of risk assessment and risk management and monitoring of the catchment areas for water abstraction points;<br \/>\nset up data sets of water-quality monitoring results, incidents and any derogations granted.<br \/>\nThe European Commission will carry out an evaluation of the directive by 12 January 2035 and, in the meantime, review the microbial and chemical standards as well as monitoring, sampling and risk-assessment procedures, at least every 5 years.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pre-2023_Directives\"><\/span>Pre-2023 Directives<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The directive recasts and repeals Directive 98\/83\/EC and its subsequent amendments (see summary) as of 12 January 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Directives lay down standards for drinking water.\u00a0 This applies to all water for human consumption apart from natural mineral waters. States must ensure that drinking water does not contain concentrations of microorganisms, pesticides or other substances which constitute a human health risk. It must meet minimum requirements (microbiological and chemical parameters and radioactivity) laid then by the directive.<\/p>\n<p>Steps must be taken to guarantee the healthiness and purity of water for human consumption.\u00a0 Member states must regularly monitor water quality for human consumption.\u00a0 The analysis method specified in the directive or equivalent methods must be used.<\/p>\n<p>When the values or limits are not achieved, the states must secure that corrective action is taken as quickly as possible.\u00a0 States must prohibit distribution of drinking water or restrict its use where necessary where the water constitutes a potential human health hazard.\u00a0 Consumers must be informed.<\/p>\n<p>States may allow for exemption from the values, provided they don\u2019t endanger human health and there are no other reasonable means of maintaining the distribution of drinking water.\u00a0 The exemption must be restricted to maximum periods.\u00a0 It must be justified in detail.<\/p>\n<p>States granting an exemption must inform the population and the Commission.\u00a0 Every three years, the state must publish a report on the quality of drinking water for its consumers.\u00a0 States must take necessary action to guarantee that water qualities are met.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Application_Background\"><\/span>Application &amp; Background<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It has applied since 12 January 2021 and has to become law in EU countries by 12 January 2023 (some aspects by 12 January 2026).<\/p>\n<p>For more information, see:<\/p>\n<p>CFU (colony-forming unit): a unit used in microbiology to estimate the number of viable bacteria or fungal cells in a sample. Viable is defined as the ability to multiply via binary fission under controlled conditions.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MAIN_DOCUMENT\"><\/span>MAIN DOCUMENT<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Directive (EU) 2020\/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast) (OJ L 435, 23.12.2020, pp. 1-62)<\/p>\n<p>RELATED DOCUMENTS<br \/>\nRegulation (EU) 2019\/1020 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on market surveillance and compliance of products and amending Directive 2004\/42\/EC and Regulations (EC) No 765\/2008 and (EU) No 305\/2011 (OJ L 169, 25.6.2019, pp. 1-44)<\/p>\n<p>Commission Directive (EU) 2015\/1787 of 6 October 2015 amending Annexes II and III to Council Directive 98\/83\/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption (OJ L 260, 7.10.2015, pp. 6-17)<\/p>\n<p>Directive 2009\/54\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters (Recast) (OJ L 164, 26.6.2009, pp. 45-58)<\/p>\n<p>Directive 2001\/83\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use (OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, pp. 67-128)<\/p>\n<p>Successive amendments to Directive 2001\/83\/EC has been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.<\/p>\n<p>Directive 2000\/60\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, pp. 1-73)<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-17675\" data-postid=\"17675\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-17675 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Drinking water \u2014 essential quality standards Directive (EU) 2020\/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast) It seeks to introduce revised rules to protect human health from the contamination of water intended for human consumption by ensuring that it is \u2018wholesome and clean\u2019, It also seeks to introduce hygienic requirements for materials [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[215,236],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17675"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17675"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17675\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18391,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17675\/revisions\/18391"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}