Resources - Position papers

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 tools for status assessment and the role played by exemptions, with a focus on the implications for water services in Europe. It also suggests possible solutions that could be part of the future revision of the WFD in order to uphold the main goal of the directive: the protection of European water bodies even after 2027.

EurEau welcomes and supports the EU Strategy on Plastics. EurEau also fully supports REACH restrictions regarding microplastics in personal care and cosmetic products and detergents. 

The water services sector is particularly concerned about microplastics emissions in the (aquatic) environment. Microplastics are a challenge for waste water operators, whose mission is to treat waste water to ensure the protection of the environment and ecosystems, and for drinking water operators, who have to rely on drinking water resources to produce drinking water. EurEau advocates for the polluter pays principle and control at source measures as well as extended producer responsibility to tackle this issue. 

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 today and tomorrow.

Clean water is a prerequisite for ensuring environmental and public health and prosperity. To achieve this we need better EU policy coordination.

Water and agriculture are essential for life. However, agriculture increasingly affects the quantity and the quality of drinking water resources. EurEau insists on the proper implementation EU legislation so as to protect health and the environment.

Decreasing water consumption is an economic challenge for water and waste water operators, since most of their costs are fixed but their income is closely linked to consumption. Given that 60-80% of the costs are fixed, measures should guarantee that all fixed costs are recovered, for example by a better tariff structure.

The Fertiliser Regulation opens the door to using recovered phosphorus from sewage sludge in fertiliser products. Including treated input materials from waste water treatment plants as a component in fertilisers promotes recycling and is better for the environment.

Glyphosate is routinely found in raw water resources across Europe. We support measures taken to control the concentrations of this chemical in surface waters and in urban run-off. It is vital that consumers across Europe have access to safe drinking water. We need access to clean water resources that are free from contaminants such as microplastics and micropollutants. This protects the environment, and consumers from additional costs.

The UN officially acknowledged the human right to water and sanitation. To realise this right, water and sanitation must be available, accessible, affordable, acceptable, and safe. EurEau members provide consumers with water that meet some of the world’s strictest standards, every day. Pricing policies and affordability mechanisms play a fundamental role in this.

Water is life. But these services have a cost that is covered by the water bill. In case citizens (domestic households), cannot afford to pay their bill, laws or contract agreements foresee measures to allow both customers and water services to maintain the service provided. This document summarises the procedures in place in EurEau members’ countries.

Banning amalgam will help sludge from waste water treatment meet the quality standards to be reused in fertilisers, improving the environment.

Water operators are fully committed to delivering strong governance in water services provision through transparency, accountability and stakeholder engagement. To pursue this, key relevant information for consumers should be made widely available by water operators.

The EU must do more to minimise the impacts of the exploration for and extraction of unconventional onshore hydrocarbons on water and waste water services. We need access to clean water resources that are free from contaminants. This protects the environment, and consumers from additional costs.

Protecting surface water sources from contamination is vital for ensuring a supply of clean and safe drinking water for us now and for our future generations. EurEau insists on the proper implementation EU legislation so as to protect health and the environment

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. We want to prevent contaminants from entering the water cycle in the first place. If this is not possible, EurEau insists on the proper implementation EU legislation so as to protect health, the environment and protect consumers from additional costs.

Waste water collecting systems are a vital part of the urban environment across Europe. We recognise many opportunities to make urban environments more sustainable through the management of waste water flows and storm water. We need better coordination with other EU legislation to protect health, the environment and consumers from additional costs.

EurEau members are fully committed to public transparency. This empowers customers and stakeholders to improve their awareness of water matters and express their interest, ideas and expectations.

EU legislation must ensure protection of drinking water resources and safe and healthy drinking water for European citizens. INSPIRE must provide relevant data about the soil, and groundwater and surface water quality.

Pharmaceuticals can end up in the water cycle. EurEau believes that good agricultural practices should be promoted and incentivised to reduce the amount of pharmaceuticals in the environment and protect water resources. We want to prevent contaminants from entering the water cycle in the first place. If this is not possible, EurEau insists on the proper implementation EU legislation so as to protect health, the environment and protect consumers from additional costs.

The Plant Protection Products Regulation, the Biocidal Products Regulation, and the REACH Regulation send the right signals regarding the hazard-based approach and the precautionary principles with regards to the protection of water resources. We need better coordination with other EU legislation to protect health, the environment and consumers from additional costs.