EurEau News
Speaking out
On 23.09, Oliver Loebel spoke at an event ‘Addressing the staggering costs of PFAS pollution’ hosted by the French EU delegation in cooperation with Hazardous Waste Europe and the EEB.
Water UK’s Leila Swan spoke on behalf of EurEau at the EDANA Outlook conference (23-25 September, Budapest) on the link between sewer blockages and wipes.
Chairperson of our JWG Innovation, Javier Fernandez, was at the European Water Tech Accelerator event in London on 24 September, speaking on the role of EU regulation as a source of innovation due to the stringent requirements that need to be met.
Also on 24 September, co-hosted by MEP Heléne Fritzon, Svenskt Vatten and EurEau, was the meeting ‘Turning the tide on PFAS: Risks, costs & ways forward’ in the European Parliament, Brussels. EurEau Vice President Brian Murphy moderated, with an opening speech by EurEau President Pär Dalhielm.
On 25 September, Oliver spoke at the DVGW Congress in Bonn, Germany, on expected developments around the Drinking Water Directive.
Javier Fernandez will represent EurEau at the Advisory Board meeting of Water4All, which is happening in Malaga on 22 October.
EU news
Water legislation
Drinking Water Directive: analysing microplastics
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) has published a report following up on the Commission’s Delegated Decision 2024/1441, defining a methodology to measure microplastics in drinking water. The JRC report provides a summary of the published methodology (InfraRed or Raman optical micro-spectroscopy) with additional insights into some critical elements and limitations and – in Annexes – showing experimental examples. The report is here.
Who Pays for Cleaner Water?: in defence of EPR
Micropollutants from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics are a growing threat to Europe’s water, and the EU’s recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive says it’s time for polluters to pay. Under the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, these industries must cover at least 80% of treatment costs – ensuring the burden doesn’t fall on households, SMEs or local water operators.
The Directive levels the playing field by applying equally to EU and non-EU producers and gives incentives for greener product design. The message is simple: protecting clean, affordable water is a shared responsibility – and those who create pollution must help pay to remove it. You can read our views here.
UWWTD: Commission Expert Group
The Commission’s Expert Group on the recast UWWTD will meet on 2 October in Brussels. EurEau will be represented by Paula Lindell, Jo Severyns and Gari Villa-Landa.
WFD: trilogue reaches disappointing result
The European Parliament and Council agreed on 23 September on a common text to revise the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and its “Daughter Directives” on groundwater and surface water pollutants. EurEau welcomes the timing of the agreement, which comes not a moment too soon, as Member States are already working on the next cycle of River Basin Management Plans (2028-2033). Read more…
Water and agriculture
Nitrates: change to rules threatens Europe’s water quality
On 19 September 2025, Member States in the Nitrates Committee endorsed a proposal to raise the legal limit of nitrogen applied on farmland for fertilisers known as “RENURE”, a type of processed manure. The text, which amends the long-standing Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC), would allow the application of RENURE up to 80kg of nitrogen per hectare on top of the normal limit of 170kg/ha. This would amount to raising the legal limit by 47%.
EurEau strongly opposes the creation of such a loophole in the Nitrates Directive. You can read why here.
Pesticides: Commission update sees progress in meeting pesticide reduction targets
According to a recent Commission report, the non-binding EU target to reduce the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030 had already been met in 2023. The report states that the use and risk of chemical pesticides has decreased by 58%, while the use of more hazardous pesticides fell by 27% compared to the reference period of 2015-2017.
A number of stakeholders have contested the calculation methods behind these indicators. For more information: Sustainable use of pesticides.
Water and the environment
Chemicals: water services sector calls for stronger and more effective REACH
EurEau has released its recommendations for the revision of the REACH regulation, calling for stronger, more effective and more modern rules. The full article is here, while our recommendations are here.
PFAS: ECHA to adopt UPFAS restriction proposal by end of 2026
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) aims to finalise its proposal for the universal PFAS restriction by the end of 2026, the agency stated in a recently published note.
ECHA’s updated restriction proposal increases the number of derogations and extends their duration in a number of cases. Eight industry sectors will not be covered by the restriction proposal for time reasons.
These new developments represent a serious threat to Europe’s water resilience. We call on the ECHA and the five submitting countries to take better account of the benefits of a prompt and far-reaching PFAS ban. While PFAS are considered as non-threshold substances, the restriction proposal foresees PFAS emissions of hundreds of thousands of tonnes over the next decades. More details here.
Environmental legislation: EurEau responds to Call for Evidence on simplification
The Commission has presented plans to propose a new Omnibus Regulation on environmental legislation, to simplify administrative burdens for European companies. EurEau responded to the accompanying Call for Evidence, outlining the potential benefits of streamlined permitting procedures for critical water infrastructure while pointing out the risks of falling into deregulation of all sectors, with potentially harmful effects on water resources. Read our full contribution here.
European Climate Resilience and Risk Management Initiative: Call for Evidence
A Call for Evidence for the European Climate Resilience and Risk Management Initiative was launched on 24 July (deadline 4 September). You can find our contribution here.
A public consultation is planned for Q4 2025.
Water as an essential service
MFF: opportunities for a water resilient Europe
The European Commission’s first outline of the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) shows a clear shift in priorities – focusing more on boosting Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, and geopolitical readiness. Within this, two major funding streams could bring real opportunities for the water sector. Read more…
Horizon Europe: Funding opportunities for “Civil security for society”
Cluster 3 on ‘Civil Security for Society’ responds to the challenges arising from persistent security threats, including cybercrime, as well as natural and human-made disasters. Ongoing calls for proposals cover research and innovation projects in areas such as Resilient Infrastructures and A Disaster Resilient Society for Europe. The deadline for the submission of proposals is 12 November 2025. More information here.
Other news
EU Water Academy: have your say
The European Commission’s DG Research is looking for insights and expressions of interest from water-related organisations across Europe. Your feedback will play a crucial role in shaping the development and implementation of the EUWA.
As a key element of the European Water Resilience Strategy, the Academy will build the knowledge, skills, and expertise to ensure a water-resilient continent. It will offer advanced training, support innovation and improve collaboration between public and private sectors.
Have your say by 31 October https://lnkd.in/eduiw_4w.
Water governance: OECD Water Governance Initiative assesses progress
The July 2025 meeting of the OECD WGI looked back at the implementation of the governance principles ten years after their development. Feedback showed that 85% of respondents consider that OECD principles should be revised, 70% identify climate resilience and adaptation as the highest priorities, and 77% would like to play a more active role in disseminating and communicating WGI results.
The EurEau representative, Lucia Pitzurra (Utilitalia, Italy) stressed the need for a PFAS ban, more support for water reuse and the implementation of nature credits.
Events
7 October 2025, Leuven, Belgium and Online – MARSURE, a project on Artificial Managed Aquifer Recharge, will hold stakeholder workshops. A project presentation by MARSURE and two other European projects on Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) will be presented. Register: https://eng.geus.dk/marsure.
7-8 October 2025, Lesvos, Greece – ZeroPM’s Third International Workshop – Achieving Zero Pollution of Persistent and Mobile Substances: Removal through Technical Solutions. More details at Removal Workshop – ZeroPM.
8 October 2025, Brussels, Belgium – final event of the EU-funded StopUP Project. Hear Case Studies, the StopUP SuDS Tool, and LCA and decision support methods. Register your attendance here and find out more about StopUP: https://stopup.eu.
14 October 2025, Brussels, Belgium – From SIN to WIN: A compass for a clean and competitive Europe. ChemSec will host an all-day event, focused on how the EU can stay competitive, build a truly circular economy, and protect people and planet — all at once? It starts with safer chemicals. The event is free of charge. Sign up here.
23-24 October 2025, Malaga, Spain – The Water Joint Programming Initiative (Water JPI) will conclude 14 years of collaboration in water research and innovation with a series of final events in Málaga. These activities will celebrate the initiative’s achievements and reflect on its legacy and contribution to shaping future programmes such as Water4All. Read more…
5-6 November 2025 – WWT’s Drinking Water Quality Europe Conference. More…
8 December 2025, Brussels and online – the Water Resilience Forum in the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee is open for registration.