The ESA is a member of the European Drinking Water industrial alliance (EDW); a group of industry associations (like Europump) who have agreed to act together to assist in the finalisation of the test procedures for materials and products used with potable water.

DG Environment and the review of the Drinking Water Directive (DWD) Article 10.

The ESA has replied to EDW views on what shape the new DWD should take and asked for the inclusion of assemblies and for the addition of “a mix of aramid and mineral fibres, with fillers and binders” to be added to cover AF sheet cut gaskets commonly used on water services. This request has been taken on board and these two items are now in the responses.

However, a meeting held on 4th October in Brussels has ruled that the DWD cannot be used to generate a single European wide test for materials and assemblies in contact with drinking water. This is because it contravenes Article 193, which allows member states to add their own more stringent requirements to any European test. It has therefore suggested that Construction Products Regulation (CPR) is the only route to follow. This clearly is directly opposite to EDW members views and causes a serious issue for the progress on a single test.

The EDW group held the next plenary meeting on Tuesday 19th December in Brussels, which Mark Neal attended.

A new DWD was issued January 31st 2018:

  • Article 10 of EC98/83 deleted, and implied “mutual recognition” removed. Only 20 years after the original plan was set out!
  • New standardisation mandate to be issued under CPR, which will set requirements for construction materials and products in contact with drinking water.
  • Use Harmonised European standards (hEN) and Horizontal assessment methods in European Standards (EN).
  • Some existing tests to be included in new requirements.

Targets for revised harmonised test are now set for mid-2019. The EC Expert group is to meet February 23rd 2018.

The European Commission published an official press release on the revised legislation for the DWD on February 1st 2018.

The ESA is currently reviewing the 4-member states test details to try to bring some sensible suggestions to the table on creating one single test that might satisfy all member states. This is against the background where rival tests in Germany are being promoted by ELL and UBA, and the German Federal Ministry of Health and Environmental Agency is demanding the “fullest harmonization possible”.

David Mitchell, Standard and Legislation Director

Read also other parts of the Standards and Legislation report: