The ZeroPollution4Water Cluster recently released second Policy Brief, a critical document titled: โ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ฟ๐๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฝ๐ฎ-๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐ช๐๐ฉ๐จ (๐ฟ๐ฝ๐๐จ) ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ช๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง.โ The brief emphasises that decisive policy action is paramount for delivering safe, resilient, and trusted tap water throughout Europe.
Disinfection By-products (DBPs) are formed when disinfectants like chlorine react with natural organic matter or pollutants during drinking water treatment. While disinfection is indispensable for preventing waterborne diseases, certain DBPs, including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), have been linked to increased risks of cancer, such as bladder, liver, and colon cancer. With over 600 DBPs identified to date, many with unclear formation mechanisms, water utilities face a complex challenge: maintaining effective disinfection while minimizing harmful by-product formation.
This delicate balancing act is further exacerbated by the impacts of climate change, which often lead to deteriorating source water quality, necessitating higher doses of disinfectants. The new EU Drinking Water Directive (DWD) provides an essential framework, requiring water operators to integrate DBP risk management into their operations.
The Policy Brief, informed by extensive research and insights from across the ZeroPollution4Water Cluster (including contributions from projects like [Your Project Name]), outlines key recommendations for policymakers:
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Consider proactive measures against climate-induced challenges:ย This includes adopting flexible and adaptive water treatment processes, ensuring tailored local solutions, investing in DBP precursor and DBP removal methodologies, and establishing robust monitoring and early warning systems. The brief highlights the need to reduce water residence time in distribution networks as a proactive measure.
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Support investment in water infrastructure:ย Recommendations include addressing issues related to the safe maintenance of pipelines, improving system flushing and mixing in tanks, and encouraging the maintenance of domestic installations.
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Communicate smartly with civil society:ย The Cluster advocates for transparent data sharing, easy access to information, and replicating successful societal initiatives to build public trust.
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Upgrade the EU water acquis and guidance to the new challenges:ย A crucial call is to establish and enforce regulatory limits for newly identified and currently unregulated DBPs, alongside encouraging proactive planning and source water pollution protection measures. The brief points out that existing regulations vary significantly and often do not account for novel DBPs.
The document also provides examples of successful approaches, such as Australiaโs multi-barrier strategy combined with risk-based Water Safety Plans, and mentions the #H2OforAll projectโs developed โpreventive measures toolboxโ for protecting drinking water from DBP formation.
The full Policy Brief is available for download, offering detailed insights for water professionals, policymakers, researchers, and concerned citizens alike.ย Read the fullย Policy Brief here.ย
