The list of EU surface water pollutants has been updated with new substances

The list of EU surface water pollutants has been updated with new substances

Hanna Velyka

This is the fourth update of the list, which was first compiled in 2015

The European Commission has approved a new checklist of substances in surface waters that may pose a threat to the environment and human health.

This was reported by the supreme executive body of the European Union.

The updated list contains 12 pollutants. It includes pesticides and pharmaceuticals, a sunscreen and an antioxidant used in tires. The impact of these substances was identified by experts from EU member states as a matter of great concern.

From now on, EU Member States will monitor the listed substances at a limited number of monitoring stations in selected representative surface waters for at least the next 2 years to obtain information on their concentration and presence in the environment.

The collected data set will help the European Commission determine whether these substances pose a large-scale threat. If so, they may be included in the list of priority substances under the Water Framework Directive. In this case, Member States will have to agree on maximum permissible thresholds for the presence of these substances in surface waters, as well as take measures, if possible, at the source level to reduce or phase out their emissions.

In mid-January, EcoPolitic reported that the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine had approved the State Water Monitoring Program for 2025, which covers 7 river basins – the Dnipro, Dniester, Danube, Southern Bug, Don, Vistula, and Black Sea.

We also told you that in late January, environmental inspectors checked for possible pollution of the Ustia River in Rivne.

Tags: , , ,
Related
European Commission adopts rules for low-carbon hydrogen
European Commission adopts rules for low-carbon hydrogen

Both domestic EU producers and international exporters must comply with them

Ukraine will start presenting its progress in the environmental sphere to the EU
Ukraine will start presenting its progress in the environmental sphere to the EU

Before that, three rounds of simulation sessions were held

The European Commission has expanded the range of projects that can receive EU funds for decarbonization
The European Commission has expanded the range of projects that can receive EU funds for decarbonization

Advisory assistance will also be provided to initiatives that fall under the ETS2 emissions system