The European Commission has called on Portugal, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, and the Netherlands to implement a directive updating water quality criteria to ensure it is potable.
This European directive, which was due to be incorporated into national legislation by January 12, 2023, requires measures to reduce microplastics and prevent leaks, as an average of 30% of piped drinking water is lost during distribution.
In Portugal’s case, the government “failed in the correct transposition of several points of the directive,” specifically regarding risk assessment of drinking and distributed water, as well as “the role of competent authorities.”
The European Commission also urged Portugal and Romania to adhere to EU rules on ecodesign and energy labeling of products.
Ursula von der Leyen’s executive based this demand on the member states’ failure to comply with labeling regulations, specifically whether they meet minimum energy use requirements and if the designs satisfy ecological criteria.
These regulations aim to provide more information to help consumers make informed decisions, explained the European Commission.
