Water and health
EU to rely on wastewater surveillance to track COVID-19 variants
Wastewater surveillance can be used to track the spread of new variants of the coronavirus among Europe's population, the EU's Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told EURACTIV.
Expert: Portugal’s new anti-Legionella regime fits with EU tap water rules
The new Portuguese framework for the prevention and control of Legionnaires’ diseases is compatible with the flexibility allowed under the European Union’s overhauled tap water rules, a Portuguese health expert has told EURACTIV.com.
Water is life, and at the heart of our agenda
Water is a critical global security matter and Slovenia intends to put it at the core of its EU presidency, which starts on 1 July, writes Dr Stanislav Raščan.
Parliament seals historic first citizen-led EU law on tap water
The European Parliament gave the final go-ahead to revised rules on Tuesday (15 December) that seek to update water quality parameters, in a bid to restore citizens’ trust in what comes out of the tap.OpinionPromoted content
Wastewater coronavirus testing shows promise as a means to detect outbreaks
In the quest to control the pandemic, our best defense might be flowing underground. According to Science magazine, researchers in Paris spent several weeks this year sampling sewage for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In Germany, CNN reports that microbiologists are checking wastewater...
EU’s new drinking water law is in line with latest science, health expert says
An EU agreement to monitor tap water for the presence of potentially lethal Legionella bacteria takes into consideration the emergence of newer, more effective testing methods, a national public health expert told EURACTIV.
New tap water rules already flowing ahead of EU rubber stamp
While waiting for the go-ahead to the overhauled Drinking Water Directive (DWD), some EU member states, as well as the UK, have already started implementing methods for microbiological analysis of water quality suggested in the new rules.
Sinkevicius: Dealing with PFAS chemicals in revised tap water rules was a ‘great move’
The inclusion of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the EU's Drinking Water Directive was a step forward that showed the EU's commitment to address these chemicals, Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told EURACTIV.
Information is key to promote tap water use, health expert says
Providing tap water with the same level of information and transparency as bottled water will restore citizens trust and help fulfil one of the main objectives of the Drinking Water Directive (DWD), says Philippe Hartemann.
Scientists and Commission clash over detecting Legionella risk
Some researchers and scientists firmly criticised the European Commission's approach on assessing the risk of Pneumonia-causing bacteria in the Drinking Water Directive (DWD) during an event organised at the European Parliament by EURACTIV.
Tap water in the EU: Environmental and health considerations
Finland’s EU presidency and MEPs in the new European Parliament will have to address all relevant health concerns when it comes to drinking water rules if they want to pass the historic first citizen-led EU legislation in the next term.
Climate change leads to spread of Pneumonia-causing bacteria, expert says
A warmer climate and Europe's ageing population create a favourable breeding ground for legionella bacteria, which cause a type of pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease, Professor Martin Exner said in an interview.
WHO says microplastics in water not a health risk, more research needed
Plastic pollutant nanoparticles in both tap and bottled water do not pose an apparent health hazard, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report. However, the UN body acknowledges more research and evidence is needed.OpinionPromoted content
Legionella pneumophila in EU drinking water directive
Figawa's position on the Draft of the Council of the European Union on the Revision of the EU Drinking Water Directive.OpinionPromoted content
Water meets Energy, Energy meets Water
The Water Innovation Europe 2019 edition “Water meets Energy, Energy meets Water” was successfully concluded on the 13th of June in Brussels with about 230 participants joining us from the water & energy sector.OpinionPromoted content
ECI’s contribution on the Revision of the Drinking Water Directive in view of the Trilogues
The European Copper Institute (ECI) strongly supports measures that help to improve the quality of water intended for human consumption, and is therefore is in favour of EU-wide standards that help understanding and reduce sources of chemical and /or biological contamination in drinking water systems.
ECDC: Legionella outbreak may be reduced with appropriate controls
A new community outbreak of Legionella in Belgium's Flanders region renewed public attention to the so-called Legionnaires' disease, which is increasing in the EU, according to the EU agency for infectious diseases control.
Tap water rules no longer in deep water, but health concerns persist
Finland's EU presidency and MEPs in the new European Parliament will have to address all relevant health concerns when it comes to the drinking water rules if they want to pass the historic first citizen-led EU legislation in the next term.
No water, no reuse
The European Parliament can save the entire water reuse project, or render the whole exercise until now worthless when it votes on 12 February, writes Roberto Mazzini.
Expert: Predictive water management saves costs and the environment
Predictive management and process optimisation in water utilities mean less usage of chemicals, which results in a positive environmental footprint as well as less operational costs for the industry, an expert told EURACTIV.com.
EU countries call for strict health rules on ‘water contact materials’
An overwhelming majority of member states have voiced support for stricter EU rules on drinking water, saying the same level of safety should apply to products coming in contact with water as for those coming in contact with food.
EU court condemns Germany for exceeding nitrate limits
The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) ruled on Thursday (21 June) that Germany had breached EU law by allowing an excessive use of manure as a fertiliser, thus violating the limits set out in the EU’s nitrates directive which aims to reduce water pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.
Increased drugs’ use threatens aquatic environment, report says
The steady ageing of Europe's population will result in an increased consumption of medicines, which will consequently lead to higher concentrations of pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment and pose potential threats to public health, a new study has warned.Supporter
