Europe: new report says water quality improves but challenges remain

The quality of drinking water and bathing water, and the effectiveness of waste water treatment across the European Union continues to improve – but challenges remain, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report has been published. However, pollution from sources like waste water treatment plants, agricultural runoff and storm water overflows, and emerging risks like micro pollutants from personal care products are continuing to pose challenges to maintaining clean and healthy water for people’s use.

The EEA report ‘European water policies and human health,’ provides a combined review of three key legislative acts that underpin water management in the EU — the Bathing Water Directive, the Drinking Water Directive and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which contribute to achieving the over-arching objectives set by the Water Framework Directive. EU water legislation makes a significant contribution towards ensuring public health and environmental protection across Europe. The EU legislation sets binding standards for Member States to ensure high water quality for drinking and for recreational purposes, and to limit pollution caused by waste water discharged to the environment.

Click here to download European water policies and human health