France is two months old to “answer” et “Remedy its shortcomings”. The European Commission sent him a letter of formal notice, after having decided “Opening offenses”learned AFP this Friday, July 18. In question: France does not have correctly “Transposed the relative directive drinking water»which establishes standards for its quality. Brussels sent the same mail to Ireland and Slovenia.
The overhaul of these regulations, which came into force in 2021, aims in particular to make tap water clearer and protect human health. Quality standards had therefore been updated: worrying pollutants are targeted, such as endocrine disruptors and microplastics. Member States were required to transpose this directive for January 12, 2023.
This is therefore still not the case for France. In its letter of formal notice, the Commission specifies that the breaches are linked to “The evaluation of Risks of private distribution facilities, monitoring drinking water quality and compulsory information to provide to the public. ” If hexagon does not remedy the situation within the time limit of two months, Brussels could decide to issue motivated opinions, then go before the Court of Justice.
But this is not the first time that the Commission has warned the French State on the issue. She had already sent him, on the subject of the regulation of drinking water, a letter of formal notice in October 2020. Then a reasoned opinion in February 2023. In question: too high concentrations of nitrates compared to the limits set by the directive, which could represent a danger to health. The Commission then considered that the efforts made by France to respond to these grievances were insufficient. It therefore initiated a procedure against France before the Court of Justice of the European Union in July 2024. It is clear that these actions have not been effective for the moment.
“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”defends the Ministry of Ecological Transition to AFP. He ensures that the main tools, in particular a decree defining the sensitive sampling points and a guide for prefects, “Are being developed”. They should be “Published by the end of 2025”.
