New RIWA-Rijn report: is the level of purification treatment decreasing?

We have published a new report: ‘Removal requirement and purification effort for the Dutch Rhine water from 2000-2018’

Water Framework Directive (WFD) Article 7.3 states: “Member States shall ensure the necessary protection for the bodies of water identified with the aim of avoiding deterioration in their quality in order to reduce the level of purification treatment required in the production of drinking water.”

In this report we examined whether the required level of purification treatment for  Rhine water has decreased since the implementation of the WFD.

Our calculations show that the measures taken to achieve the objectives of the WFD have not led to an improvement of the water quality of the Rhine with regard to the purpose of drinking water production.

Click here for more information and to download the report.

Press release of the Coalition of the European River Memorandum

European Coalition of Drinking Water Suppliers Demands Preservation of the Water Framework Directive and Intensification of Measures for Drinking Water Protection

The coalition calls for the unrestricted continuation of the European Water Framework Directive and for the criteria for the protection of drinking water resources to be specified.

The aim must be to maintain and strengthen precautionary water protection so that drinking water can continue to be provided using near-natural and sustainable treatment methods.

The coalition represents the needs for clean drinking water of 188 million inhabitants from 18 European countries living in the Rhine, Danube, Elbe, Meuse and Scheldt catchment areas.

The press release can be downloaded here.

The position paper can be downloaded here in English and in German.