New legislation aimed at improving consumers’ trust in drinking water from the tap will see maximum limits for certain pollutants such as lead, harmful bacteria tighten, while new caps for certain endocrine disruptors will be introduced.
The legislation also provides for the monitoring the levels of microplastics.
According to the European Commission lower consumption of bottled water could help EU households save more than €600 million per year.
This was part of the follow-up on their resolution on the citizens’ initiative Right2Water.
Nationalist MEP Francis Zammit Dimech remarked that it was imperative to improve water’s quality given that it was one of the most important element in a person’s life.
According to Zammit Dimech the updated directive on water would improve the water’s quality but also require more rigorous and secure methods of testing water.
Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi remarked that she backed the ambitious approach adopted by the European Parliament.
The MEP said that the directive adopted means higher quality standards and that the recommendations which emanate out of the reports on climate change and circular economy would be adopted.
Labour MEP Miriam Dalli argued that the Directive on Drinking Water was aimed at having a legal framework which would provide for improved standards for drinking water however there were still people without access to clean water.
The MEP who abstained from voting on the directive, remarked that there was no binding legislation on the Member States to provide clean potable water.