France once again put in notice by the European Commission to respect a directive

The EU notes in particular “breaches” in monitoring the quality of drinking water and in the information transmitted to the public. The French authorities have two months to comply.

This is not the first time that the French authorities have been pinned about water management. The European Commission once again put France on Friday July 18, to respect the European Drive Water Directive. Ireland and Slovenia are also concerned. “The European Commission has decided to open offense procedures by sending letters of formal notice” to these three countries, on the grounds that they “did not properly transpose the directive relating to drinking water”explains the commission in its decision.

Regarding France, “This is the risk assessment of private distribution facilities, monitoring drinking water quality and compulsory information to provide to the public”. France now has “two months’ period” To respond to this formal notice “and remedy the shortcomings” Released by the Commission, failing which, it could decide to issue motivated opinions.

This European directive aims in particular to improve health protection thanks to updated water quality standards, which target worrying pollutants, such as endocrine disruptors and microplastics. Member States were required to transpose the directive for January 12, 2023.

The commission had already sent a letter of formal notice to France in October 2020, then a reasoned opinion in February 2023, accusing too high concentrations of nitrates in drinking water, compared to the limits set by the directive. In July 2024, the Commission, considering that the efforts made by France to respond to these grievances were insufficient, initiated proceedings against France before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

“We are carrying out in -depth work on the roadmap for the protection of catchments, in order to permanently improve the quality of drinking water”to react the Ministry of Ecological Transition to AFP. The ministry ensures that the main tools, including a decree defining sensitive sampling points and a guide for prefects, “are being developed” and should be “Published by the end of 2025”.