Commission welcomes provisional agreement to improve the quality of #DrinkingWater and access to it

The Commission has welcomed the provisional agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council in Strasbourg on the recast Drinking Water Directive.

The agreement is based on the proposal adopted by the Commission in February 2018, as a direct follow-up to the Right2Water European Citizens' Initiative. It aims to improve the quality of drinking water and access to it as well as provide better information to citizens.

Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius said: “Citizens have called on the Commission loud and clear to propose an initiative to ensure guaranteed access to safe drinking water for Europeans. The Commission followed up on that call, made through a European Citizens' Initiative, with an ambitious proposal. Today, the co-legislators have also heard that call and agreed to modernize EU rules, improving the quality of drinking water on the basis of the most recent standards, increasing access to water for all and enhancing transparency in this essential sector. Together we can and must protect the health and safety of our citizens."

The newly agreed rules implement the so-called risk-based-approach, allowing for further prevention and mitigation measures to protect drinking water sources. The provisional agreement reached is now subject to formal approval by the European Parliament and the Council. More information is available in the full press release.

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