By Kevin Akor
BRUSSELS, Feb. 17 — The Council of the European Union on Tuesday formally adopted stricter EU rules to curb pollution in surface water and groundwater, expanding the list of hazardous substances and tightening environmental standards across the bloc.
The updated directive revises existing EU water laws to include additional pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, bisphenols and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals,” while introducing new methods to assess the cumulative risks of chemical mixtures.
“By setting stricter quality standards for our rivers, lakes and groundwater, we are not only protecting the resilience of our ecosystems but also ensuring access to clean drinking water and safeguarding the health of EU citizens today and for generations to come,” said Maria Panayiotou, Cyprus’ minister of agriculture, rural development and environment.
Several substances already regulated will face tighter environmental quality limits, and the directive adds microplastics and antimicrobial resistance indicators to EU monitoring watchlists to track emerging contaminants.
The revised law also strengthens monitoring and reporting requirements for EU member states, including the use of effect-based monitoring to assess chemical mixture impacts and allowing remote sensing and Earth observation technologies to improve data collection on water quality.
The move concludes the Council’s adoption process. The European Parliament is expected to hold a final vote by the end of March. EU countries will have until 2039 to meet the new standards for surface water and groundwater, with a 2033 deadline for compliance with revised limits on certain surface-water pollutants.
Chemical contamination remains widespread in the EU. According to river basin management data, 46% of surface waters and 24% of groundwater fail to meet existing environmental quality standards, posing risks to human health and aquatic ecosystems.
