In brief, the new Drinking Water Directive is concerned with water quality and water loss. In many European countries, there are strict requirements as to what materials may come into contact with the drinking water and to the presence of foreign substances in the drinking water.
In Denmark, our legislation does not permit leakage of more than 10% and leakages exceeding this limit are subject to pecuniary penalty. Unfortunately, it was not possible to introduce an immediate maximum leakage level into the new directive but we have come part of the way as the Drinking Water Directive now prescribes that:
In five years at the latest, at least all major water suppliers that produce more than 10,000m³ of drinking water per day or supply more than 50,000 people, must have measured the leakages."
The Commission then calculates a threshold value on the basis of the water losses reported by the Member States. In Member States above the threshold, measures must be taken to reduce water losses. After eight years at the latest, the Member States must present an action plan to reduce water losses. This is intended to improve the general under-investment in the maintenance and renewal of drinking water infrastructure in many regions of Europe.
