Brussels, 02/08/2013 (Agence Europe) - The first review of the European directive on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration (Directive 2006/118/EC) is underway. On Friday 2 August, the European Commission also launched a public consultation to collect the maximum number of contributions on the scope of review by 22 October 2013. All stakeholders are invited to say whether “any new substances should be added to the annexes” I and II of Directive 2006/118/EC.
Directive 2006/118/EC, the offspring directive of the framework directive on water (Directive 2000/118/EC), establishes minimum quality standards for groundwater, makes it an obligation for member states to take measures to prevent or limit inputs of nitrates and pesticides into groundwater, and establishes quality criteria taking local characteristics into account.
Annex I (quality norms with a view to evaluating the chemical state of groundwater) and Annex II (threshold values for groundwater pollutants and pollution indicators) contain a minimum list of pollutants and pollution indicators for which member states should contemplate establishing threshold values, guidelines for establishing threshold values, and information on pollutants and indicators.
The directive stipulates that the Commission should review these annexes every six years on the basis of groundwater monitoring data and the latest scientific knowledge, and submit proposals where necessary. (AN/transl.jl)