Report No FR0208

June 1991

To provide the members of the FWR with information on progress made in selected EC countries with implementation of the EC Directive relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption.

II REASONS The EC Drinking Water Directive provides the basis of national legislation concerning the quality of drinking water. Because of possible adaptation of the Directive, there is widespread interest in the way the Directive is applied in other EC countries. There is also particular interest in the introduction of national values which are more stringent than those required by the Directive.

New legislative measures in Germany, France and Spain have brought the national standards more closely in line with the requirements of the Drinking Water Directive. Other regulations concern the derogations which may be allowed, subject to safeguarding public health, when limit values are exceeded.

Deviations from the Directive remain for a number of the parameters in the national regulations in several countries. Those of most significance concern arsenic (Germany), nickel (Denmark), organochlorine compounds other than pesticides (The Netherlands, Italy and Germany) and substances extractable in chloroform (Germany and The Netherlands).

Changes in drinking water regulations in Europe should continue to be monitored. The basis for standards which are more stringent than those required by the EC Drinking Water Directive should be examined and compared with information being used by WHO in the current review of drinking water quality guidelines.

Legislation relating to drinking water quality in each of the six countries is summarised with particular reference to changes introduced since September 1988. Deviations from the requirements of the EC Drinking Water Directive are highlighted. Information is also summarised on the action to be taken when monitoring shows that quality limits have been exceeded. The full report can be obtained on application to the Foundation

Copies of the report are available from FWR, price £15.00, less 20% to FWR Members.