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NIAGARA first policy brief and recommendations on contaminants of emerging concern in drinking water: regulatory analysis, gaps, and future trends.
The presence of emerging contaminants —such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, and microplastics— in water intended for human consumption represents a significant risk to both public health and the environment. The effective management of these risks greatly depends on a coherent and updated European policy and regulatory framework, capable of responding to scientific advances. This work, framed within the European project NIAGARA presents a critical analysis of said regulatory framework.
The main objective of the work carried out is to evaluate the EU policy-legal framework governing the risk assessment of emerging pollutants in drinking water. More specifically, it seeks to:
- Identify current regulatory requirements and existing legislative gaps for key substances such as bisphenol A, imazalil, Helicobacter pylori, ibuprofen, paracetamol, and microplastics.
- Analyse regulatory trends and legislative proposals that will shape the future of water policy in the EU.
- Formulate policy recommendations to strengthen the regulatory framework and promote more effective risk management.
A systematic analysis was conducted; 40 EU regulatory texts were studied, 27 of which are currently in force and relevant to the study. The methodology followed was focused on key directives such as the WFD (Water Framework Directive), the DWD (Drinking Water Directive), and the Environmental EQSD (Quality Standards Directive), as well as cross-cutting regulations like REACH (Registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals). The impact of each regulation on the management of pollutants was assessed, and the results were synthesized to identify patterns and shortcomings.
The analysis revealed a complex and fragmented regulatory framework. Significant regulatory gaps were identified: there are no EU-level parametric limits in the DWD for pharmaceuticals like ibuprofen and paracetamol, nor for the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Although Bisphenol A is regulated with a value of 2.5 µg/L, the revision of these parameters follows an ordinary legislative procedure, which can be slow to respond to new scientific evidence. A key trend is the increasing use of "watch lists" to monitor new substances; however, their review frequency and sometimes voluntary nature (as in the Groundwater Directive) limit their effectiveness. Current legislative proposals, such as the revision of the water directives (procedure 2022/0344(COD)), point to a clear trend towards greater stringency, proposing to include bisphenol A and ibuprofen in the list of priority substances and to tighten thresholds for pesticides.
The work carried put indicates that EU water policy is in a crucial phase of evolution to address emerging risks. The current framework, while robust at some points, is insufficient to cover the full spectrum of concerning pollutants. It is imperative to act on the identified gaps. The key recommendations focus on coordinating the various legislative instruments to avoid inconsistencies; streamlining the review procedures for substance lists; strengthening and making surveillance mechanisms mandatory; and decisively applying the 'polluter pays' principle to finance monitoring and the implementation of advanced technologies. The adoption of these measures will not only protect public health but also drive innovation and resilience in the European water sector.
The First Policy Brief produced in NIAGARA is the result of an exhaustive job carried out by SEMIDE. For more information download the Policy Brief available at the dissemination section in the NIAGARA website (NIAGARA - Dissemination)
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