Our Publications

Water is vital for Europe’s future as Europe’s prosperity depends on water and only a stable regulatory environment can safeguard our progress.

The Water Resilience Strategy’s call for better implementation of existing legislation must also include the rules regarding pesticide authorisation in order to protect public health. Simplifying the agricultural acquis must not be at the expense of resilient water services.

This joint statement by 42 organisations calls on EU policymakers to ensure chemical transparency and traceability in products as part of the transition to a clean and circular economy. It highlights the risks of hazardous substances to recycling, water services, public health, and competitiveness, urging strong implementation of existing strategies and regulations.

This paper examines the financing of micropollutant removal under the EU’s recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), which introduces an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. Since pharmaceuticals and cosmetics are identified as major sources of micropollutants in urban wastewater, their producers will be required to cover at least 80% of the associated treatment costs. The paper highlights that this approach reflects the polluter-pays principle, helps protect water affordability for citizens, and ensures that both EU and non-EU producers contribute equally to the cost burden.

As part of its recommendations, EurEau calls for a better protection of water resources. The classification of PMT and vPvM substances as substances of very high concern is essential, as these substances tend to accumulate in our scarce water resources. Furthermore, the Authorisation Procedure should be strengthened and the Generic Risk Assessment (GRA) approach extended. Last but not least, the current REACH rules should be applied to implement a prompt and far-reaching ban of PFAS uses.

We are pleased to share our 2024 Annual Report, showcasing our collective achievements and ongoing work to safeguard Europe’s water services. Despite political uncertainty and environmental setbacks, we advanced key policies, including the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, pushed for a robust PFAS ban, and continued advocating for a comprehensive Water Resilience Strategy.

Discover how our members, experts and partners are shaping a resilient, sustainable future for water in Europe.

Read the full report here.

The recast UWWTD is a crucial tool for improving Europe’s water quality, protecting aquatic biodiversity and public health as well as promoting circular solutions. Its EPR scheme is a proportionate instrument to encourage sustainable market practices and pollution reduction whilst spreading the cost of pollution equitably. We therefore call on the European Commission to uphold this approach and avoid any revisions that would jeopardise a timely, equitable, and effective implementation of the recast Directive.

BPA mainly enters the body through food, but its presence in drinking water also needs attention. While the EU ban on BPA in food contact materials is a positive step, it should be followed by a full REACH restriction, targeting BPA analogues and promoting safer alternatives. Since BPA transfers to water at higher temperatures, it should be banned from hot-water systems. The revision of BPA limits in the Drinking Water Directive should include a realistic timeline for suppliers to comply with new standards.

Healthy waters are not only a vital natural resource for human well-being and the environment but also a key driver
of Europe’s resilience and global competitiveness. Only by upholding the integrity of the WFD, maintaining a strong,
predictable regulatory framework, and ensuring its effective implementation can we safeguard Europe’s water
resources while fostering innovation, investment, and economic prosperity.

TFA is a very persistent, very mobile member of the PFAS group of chemicals. Due to its numerous emissions pathways, TFA is now ubiquitous in the water cycle and hard to remove by conventional water treatments. The EU should recognise the urgent necessity to stop TFA emissions to the environment as a first step towards addressing this pollution.

Because TFA is an atypical PFAS, the catch-all “PFAS Total” parameter is inadequate for TFA. A specific TFA limit value in drinking water should be set based on health-derived criteria. Where this value would require additional drinking water treatment, these costs should be borne by the polluters.