BETA

Activities of Ulrike MÜLLER related to 2017/0332(COD)

Plenary speeches (1)

Quality of water intended for human consumption – Implementation of the EU water legislation (debate)
2020/12/15
Dossiers: 2017/0332(COD)

Shadow reports (1)

RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND READING on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast)
2020/12/03
Committee: ENVI
Dossiers: 2017/0332(COD)
Documents: PDF(179 KB) DOC(54 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Christophe HANSEN', 'mepid': 193419}]

Amendments (46)

Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
(5) The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Europe conducted a detailed review of the list of parameters and parametric values laid down in Directive 98/83/EC in order to establish whether there is a need to adapt it in light of technical and scientific progress. In view of the results of that review74 , enteric pathogens and Legionella should be controlled, and six chemical parameters or parameter groups should be added, and three representative endocrine disrupting compounds should be considered with precautionary benchmark values. For three of the new parameters, parametric values that are more stringent than the ones proposed by the WHO, yet still feasible, should be laid down in light of the precautionary principl. Based on its review, the WHO also recommended that three parametric values be made less stringent and five parameters be removed from the list. In order to achieve a high level of protection for human health based on latest scientific data, it is appropriate to follow these recommendations in this directive. For lead, the WHO noted that concentrations should be as low as reasonably practical, and for chromium, the value remains under WHO review; therefore, for both parameters, a transitional period of ten years should apply before the values become more stringent. _________________ 74 Drinking Water Parameter Cooperation Project of the WHO Regional Office for Europe "Support to the revision of Annex I Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption (Drinking Water Directive) Recommendation", 11 September 2017..
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
(6) The WHO also recommended that three parametric values be made less stringent and five parameters be removed from the list. Nevertheless, those changes are not considered necessary as the risk- based approach introduced by Commission Directive (EU) 2015/178775 allows water suppliers to remove a parameter from the list to be monitored under certain conditions. Treatment techniques to meet those parametric values are already in place. _________________ 75Commission Directive (EU) 2015/1787 of 6 October 2015 amending Annexes II and III to Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption (OJ L 260, 7.10.2015, p. 6).deleted
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 151 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 a (new)
(6 a) Where scientific knowledge is not sufficient to determine either the human health risk of a substance present in water intended for human consumption, or a permissible value for the presence of that substance, the substance should be placed on a watch list, on the basis of the precautionary principle, until there are clearer scientific data. One example are endocrine disrupting substances for which there is currently no evidence for risks to health from drinking water according to the WHO’s analysis of recent scientific data. However, in the light of certain endocrine disruptors’ potential risk, it is warranted to place them on a watch list. Accordingly, Member States ought to monitor these emerging parameters separately.
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 155 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 b (new)
(6 b) Indicator parameters have no direct public-health impact. However, they are important indicators of water quality and of how water production and distribution facilities are functioning. Indicator parameters can help identify water treatment deficiencies and they also play an important role in increasing and maintaining consumer confidence in water quality. Therefore, these parameters should be monitored.
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 191 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
(14) The risk-based approach should gradually be applied by all water suppliers, including small water suppliers, as the evaluation of Directive 98/83/EC showed deficiencies in its implementation by those suppliers, which were sometimes due to the cost of performing unnecessary monitoring operations. When applying the risk-based approach, security concerns should be taken into account.
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
(17) The Commission, in its reply to the European citizens’ initiative ‘Right2Water’ in 201483 , invited Member States to ensure access to a minimum water supply for all citizens, in accordance with the WHO recommendations. It also committed to continue to "improve access to safe drinking water […] for the whole population through environmental policies"84 . This is in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 and the associated target to "achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all". The concept of equitable access covers a wide array of aspects such as availability (due for instance to geographic reasons, lack of infrastructure or the specific situation of certain parts of the populations), quality, acceptability, or financial affordability. Concerning affordability of water, it is important to recall that, when setting water tariffs in accordance with the principle of recovery of costs set out in Directive 2000/60/EC, Member States may have regard to the variation in the economic and social conditions of the population and may therefore adopt social tariffs or take measures safeguarding populations at a socio-economic disadvantage. This Directive deals, in particular, with the aspects of access to water which are related to quality and availability. To address those aspects, as part of the reply to the European citizens' initiative and to contribute to the implementation of Principle 20 of the European Pillar of Social Rights85 that states that "everyone has the right to access essential services of good quality, including water", Member States should be required to tackle the issue of access to water at national level whilst enjoying somenecessary discretion as to the exact type of measures to be implemented. This can be done through actions aimed, inter alia, at improving access to water intended for human consumption for all, for instance with freely accessible fountains in cities, and promoting its use by encouraging the free provision of water intended for human consumption in public buildings and restaurants. Member States should be free to determine the right mix of such instruments with regard to their specific national situation. _________________ 83 COM(2014)177 final 84 COM(2014)177 final, p. 12. 85 Interinstitutional Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights (2017/C 428/09) of 17 November 2017 (OJ C 428, 13.12.2017, p. 10).
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 217 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 19
(19) The 7th Environment Action Programme to 2020 ‘Living well, within the limits of our planet’90 , requires that the public have access to clear environmental information at national level. Directive 98/83/EC only provided for passive access to information, meaning that Member States merely had to ensure that information was available. Those provisions should therefore be replaced to ensure that up-to-date information is easily accessible, for instance on a website whose link should be actively distributed. The up- to-date information should not only includeon results from the monitoring programmes, but also additional information that the public may find useful, such as information on indicators (iron, hardness, minerals, etc.), which often influence consumers' perception of tap water. To that end, the indicator parameters of Directive 98/83/EC that did not provide health-related information should be replaced by on-line information on those parameters should include information on parameter values listed in Annex I, Part Ba that the public may find particularly useful since they often influence consumers' perception of tap water. For very large water suppliers, additional information on, inrelated to water qualia, energy efficiency, management, governance, cost structure, andty on, inter alia, treatment applied, should also be available on-line. It is assumed that better consumer knowledge and improved transparency will contribute to increasing citizens' confidence in the water supplied to them. This in turn is expected to lead to increased use of tap water as drinking water, thereby contributing to reduced plastic litter and greenhouse gas emissions, and a positive impact on climate change mitigation and the environment as a whole. _________________ 90 Decision No 1386/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 ‘Living well, within the limits of our planet’ (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 171).
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 225 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
(20) For the same reasons, and in order to make consumers more aware of the implications of water consumption, they should also receive information (for instance on their invoice or by smart applications)in an easily accessible manner on the volume consumed, the cost structure of the tariff charged by the water supplier, including the distribution of variable and fixed costs, as well as on the price per litre of water intended for human consumption, thereby allowing a comparison with the price of bottled water.
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 230 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21
(21) The principles to be considered in the setting of water tariffs, namely recovery of costs for water services and polluter pays, are set out in Directive 2000/60/EC. However, the financial sustainability of the provision of water services is not always ensured, sometimes leading to under-investment in the maintenance of water infrastructure. With the improvement of monitoring techniques, leakage rates – mainly due to such under-investment – have become increasingly apparent and reduction of water losses should be encouraged at Union level to improve the efficiency of water infrastructure. In line with the principle of subsidiarity, that issue should be addressed by increasing transparency and consumer information on leakage rates and energy efficiency.deleted
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 263 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
1 a. all water used in food production companies for the manufacture, processing, preservation or marketing of products or substances intended for human consumption, unless the competent national authorities are satisfied with a food operators demonstration that the water quality cannot affect the hygiene of the end food products, in line with Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a. _________________ 1aRegulation (EU) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the on the hygiene of foodstuffs (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 1).
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 294 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 7
7. 'priority premises' shall mean large premises with many users potentially exposed to water-related risks, such as hospitals, healthcare institutions, non- residential buildings with a lodging facility, penal institutions and campgrounds, as identified by Member States.
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 296 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8
8. 'vulnerable and marginalised groups' shall mean people isolated from society, as a result of discrimination or of a lack of access to rights, resources, or opportunities, and who are more exposed to a range of possible risks relating to their health, safety, lack of education, engagement in harmful practices, or other risks, compared to the rest of society.deleted
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 337 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States shall ensure that the supply, treatment and distribution of water intended for human consumption is subject to a risk-based approach, composed of thewith a clear and appropriate division of responsibilities with regard to its following elements:
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 354 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. Supply risk assessments shall be carried out by very large water suppliers and large water suppliers by [3 years after the end-date for transposition of this Directive], and by small water suppliers by [6water suppliers by [5 years after the end-date for transposition of this Directive]. They shall be reviewed at regular intervals of no longer than 6 years, and updated where necessary.
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 361 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Without prejudice to Articles 6 and 7 of Directive 2000/60/EC, in particular Articles 4 to 8, Member States shall ensure that their competent water authorities perform a hazard assessment is performed covering the bodies of water used for the abstraction of water intended for human consumption that provide more than 10 m3 a day as an average. The hazard assessment shall include the following elements:
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 374 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d – point iv
(iv) other relevant pollutants, such as microplastics, or river basin specific pollutants established by Member States on the basis of the review of the impact of human activity undertaken in accordance with Article 5 of Directive 2000/60/EC and information on significant pressures collected in accordance with point 1.4 of Annex II to that Directive.
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 385 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) require water suppliers to carry out additional monitoring or treatment of certain parameterat the point of abstraction or to carry out treatment of certain parameters, if strictly necessary to prevent health risks;
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 397 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
On the basis of the information collected under paragraphs 1 and 2 and gathered under Directive 2000/60/EC, Member States shall take the following measures in cooperation with water supplipolluters and other relevant stakeholders, or ensure that those measures are taken by the water suppliers:
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 421 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States shall ensure that a domestictheir competent authorities perform an internal distribution risk assessment isn performedriority premises as defined in Article2(7), comprising the following elements:
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 429 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b – paragraph 1
regular monitoring of the parameters listed in Annex I, part C, in priority premises where the potential danger to human health is considered highest. Relevant parameters and premises for monitoring shall be selected on the basis ofspecific risks have been identified during the assessment performed under point (a).
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 470 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt a delegated act according to Article 19 in order to supplement this directive by adopting a methodology to measure microplastics listed in the watch list set out in Annex Ia. The delegated act should be adopted no later than [1 year after entry into force of this directive].
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 479 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Member States shall automatically consider any failure to meetWhere the minimum requirements for parametric values set out in Annex I, parts A and B, are not met, competent authorities shall determine whether or not this constitutes a potential danger to human health.
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 507 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Without prejudice to Article 9 of Directive 2000/60/EC, Member States shall take all necessary measures to improve access for all to water intended for human consumption and promote its use on their territory. This shall include all of the following measures:
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 514 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) identifying people without access to water intended for human consumption and reasons for lack of access (such as belonging to a vulnerable and marginalised group), assessing possibilities to improve access for those people and informing them about possibilities of connecting to the distribution network or about alternative means to have access to such water;deleted
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 524 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) setting up and maintaining outdoors and indoors equipment for free access to water intended for human consumption in public spaces;deleted
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 532 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) promoting water intended for human consumption by: (i) launching campaigns to inform citizens about the quality of such water; (ii) encouraging the provision of such water in administrations and public buildings; (iii) encouraging the free provision of such water in restaurants, canteens, and catering services.deleted
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 557 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Member States shall take measures to promote water intended for human consumption.This shall include, for example, the following measures: a) launching campaigns to inform citizens about the quality of such water; b) encouraging the provision of such water in administrations and public buildings; c) encouraging the free provision of such water for customers in restaurants, canteens, and catering services, acknowledging the providers' right to charge a fee covering the actual cost of the service.
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 558 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 2
2. On the basis of the information gathered under paragraph 1(a), Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure access to water intended for human consumption for vulnerable and marginalised groups. In case those groups do not have access to water intended for human consumption, Member States shall immediately inform them of the quality of the water they are using and of any action that can be taken to avoid adverse effects on human health resulting from any contamination of that water.deleted
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 579 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Member States shall ensure that all persons supplied receive regularly and at least once a year, and in the most appropriate form (for instance on their invoicand easily accessible for by smart applications)m without having to request it, the following information:
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 587 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a – introductory part
(a) information on the cost structure of the tariff charged per cubic metre of water intended for human consumption, including the distribution of fixed and variable costs, presenting at least costs related to the following elements:;
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 594 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a – point i
(i) measures taken by water suppliers for the purposes of the hazard assessment pursuant to Article 8(5);deleted
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 604 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a – point ii
(ii) treatment and distribution of water intended for human consumption;deleted
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 611 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a – point iii
(iii) waste water collection and treatment;deleted
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 617 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a – point iv
(iv) measures taken pursuant to Article 13, in case such measures have been taken by water suppliers;deleted
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 628 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a a (new)
(a a) treatment and distribution of water intended for human consumption;
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 643 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) the volume consumed by the household, at least per year or per billing period, together with yearly trends of consumption, only if this data is available to the water supplier;
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 649 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) comparisons of the yearly water consumption of the household with an average consumption for a household in the same category, only if this data is available to the water supplier;
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 655 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
(e) a link to the website containing the information on water quality set out in Annex IV.
2018/06/19
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 731 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I a (new)
Annex I a Table 1 – substances included on the watch list Endocrine disruptors (including nonylphenol, beta-estradiol (50-28-2) and bisphenol A); Microplastics, monitoring shall be applicable according to the methodology to measure microplastics laid down by the delegated act referred to in Article 11.5a (new) by [6 months after its adoption]
2018/07/02
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 768 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point 2 – introductory part
(2) the most recent monitoring results for parameters listed in Annex I, parts A, B and Ba(new), including frequency and location of sampling points, relevant to the area of interest to the person supplied, together with the parametric value set in accordance with Article 5. The monitoring results must not be older than:
2018/07/02
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 824 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point 6
(6) advice to consumers including on how to reducuse water consumpresponsibly according to local conditions;
2018/07/02
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 834 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point a
(a) the overall performance of the water system in terms of efficiency, including leakage rates and energy consumption per cubic meter of delivered water;deleted
2018/07/02
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 842 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point b
(b) information on management and governance of the water supplier, including the composition of the board;deleted
2018/07/02
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 855 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point d
(d) information on the cost structure of the tariff charged to consumers per cubic meter of water, including fixed and variable costs, presenting at least costs related to energy use per cubic meter of delivered water, measures taken by water suppliers for the purposes of the hazard assessment pursuant to Article 8(4), treatment and distribution of water intended for human consumption, waste water collection and treatment, and costs related to measures for the purposes of Article 13, where such measures have been taken by water suppliers;deleted
2018/07/02
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 862 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point e
(e) the amount of investment considered necessary by the supplier to ensure the financial sustainability of the provision of water services (including maintenance of infrastructure) and the amount of investment actually received or recouped;deleted
2018/07/02
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 874 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex IV – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point g
(g) summary and statistics of consumer complaints, and of timeliness and adequacy of responses to problems;deleted
2018/07/02
Committee: ENVI