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The opinion intends to support the European Commission's proposal for a recast of Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption so as to ensure high-quality drinking water for consumers in the EU Member States in line with current scientific and technical findings.

The European Committee of the Regions wishes to protect the quality of drinking water from adverse effects to human health, through monitoring and through the minimum requirements to be complied with under the directive. Local and regional authorities in the Member States have a key role to play through monitoring and preventive and remedial measures in achieving and guaranteeing for consumers the high quality of drinking water required under the directive.

Water distribution for human consumption is fundamentally a competence and an obligation of local and regional authorities. Cities and regions are the forerunners in considering universal access to water and sanitation as a fundamental right.

The revision (recast) of the Drinking Water Directive is part of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan and responds to the first successful European Citizens' Initiative 'Right2Water'. It is a mandatory referral for the CoR.

European Parliament:

On 28 October 2018, the European Parliament adopted its report on 1st reading, accepting literally the CoR proposal related to derogations, which means a whole new article in the Directive. The EP also accepted the CoR proposal of more categories of water suppliers and measures of flexibility for very small ones, the consideration of the specific geographic circumstances of water distribution and has been very strong in relation with the support, including financial, to local and regional authorities. The EP considers subsidiarity in aspects related to access to water and in information to the public. The definition of microplastics will go to a delegated act.
https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2017/0332(COD)&l=en

European Commission:

The 81st report on the follow-up to CoR opinions replied that the Commission proposed stricter (i.e. lower) parametric values than recommended by the WHO based on the precautionary principle for example, for pesticides or for carcinogenic substances; the Commission recognises the need for developing a methodology to measure microplastics and will consider the proposal for a definition in the coming negotiations;

The Commission is open to clarify that Member States do not need to take extensive remedial actions if the exceedandance of the parametric value is trivial; the Commission will accept derogations only if the co-legislators request it; the Commission will endeavour to clarify how to best achieve the safety in building materials in contact with water.

Update: The last 19 December 2019, an informal agreement between Parliament and EU Council negotiators on the recast of the 1998 Drinking Water Directive was briefly presented to the Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU. The agreement was on:
Improved access to water: this follow EP and CoR position, but the compromise leaves the choice of means to the Member States without prescribing anything;
Measures to improve access to water for vulnerable groups and marginalised: the agreement goes further by giving example: vulnerable groups such as refugees, nomadic communities, the homeless and minority cultures such as Roma and travellers. In this regard: Possible measures could include the establishment of alternative water supply systems, the provision of water by tankers and the establishment of the necessary infrastructure for the camps;
Improved transparency: the CoR welcomes the details explained in the agreement: providing consumers access to online information at least once a year on the quality and pricing of tap water, the quantity consumed per household and a comparison with an average per household.

THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS



- welcomes the European Commission's proposal for a recast of Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption so as to ensure high-quality drinking water for consumers in the EU Member States in line with current scientific and technical findings;

- supports the European Commission's objectives of protecting the quality of drinking water from adverse effects to human health. Local and regional authorities in the Member States have a key role to play through monitoring and preventive and remedial measures in achieving and guaranteeing for consumers the high quality of drinking water required under the directive;

- welcomes in particular the Commission's proposals in response to the European Citizens' Initiative 'Right to Water', with specific measures to improve such access for vulnerable and marginalised groups;