Publication Category: Policy Recommendation & Position papers

Addressing the pollution of water resources in the context of the European Green Deal with its Zero Pollution Action Plan (ZPAP) is fundamental for the continued provision of safe and affordable drinking and waste water services, whose essential mission is to protect human health and the aquatic environment. EurEau fully supports the zero pollution ambition […]

Sewer networks are a vital part of the urban environment. They provide drainage, prevent flooding of property and protect the water environment around urban areas. We recognise many opportunities to make urban environments more sustainable through the management of waste water flows and storm water. We also acknowledge the significant financial responsibilities that are associated […]

This document provides a short reaction to and additional thoughts on the Deloitte study into Extended Producer Responsibility, accompanied by complementary information on the water services sector. EurEau largely supports the study’s outcome. The study builds a solid case in favour of mandatory control-at-source measures, complemented, where necessary, by other mitigation measures along the supply […]

Micropollutants can directly or indirectly enter the water cycle through many means. Once in the water cycle, they can pose a risk to drinking water resources and aquatic ecosystems.Current technologies used in waste water treatment plants are not entirely capable of removing micropollutants. The most sustainable and preferred solution remains to prevent micropollutants – including […]

Water and agriculture are intrinsically linked. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the new CAP protects the quality and quantity of water resources through an effective conditionality mechanism. The European Commission’s CAP proposal contains a number of elements that could contribute to more sustainable agricultural practices. However, its provisions and requirements need strengthening […]

As the pressure on water resources continues to grow due to climate change, more attention is being paid to alternative water sources. One viable alternative water source is urban waste water that has undergone necessary treatment to avoid health and environmental risks. To this end, the European Commission presented a regulation to define the minimum requirements […]

EurEau supports the proposal of the European Commission to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics (SUP). Producers must be held economically responsible for the substantial economic damage wet wipes cause to the waste water infrastructure.

We support the underlining philosophy of the Drinking Water Directive to ensure the protection of public health and we uphold the goals the European Commission intends to achieve with the new proposal. We believe that European citizens’ trust in tap water needs to be further increased. However various elements of the European Commission’s proposed text […]

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) set out a journey to achieve ‘good status’ for water bodies by 2015. The implementation of the WFD has revealed some issues, especially concerning the way the status of a water body is defined and assessed at Member State level. This position paper aims at describing the shortcomings in the […]

Customers and citizens need a much greater understanding of the value of water, including water pricing policies and the governance of water services, namely which players are involved, who takes the decisions on how water services are managed and who is responsible for what. Achieving this will help ensure access to safe and sustainable water […]