The Minister of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, Joëlle Welfring, the Water Management Agency (AGE), the syndicate of Luxembourg's cities and municipalitie (Syvicol) and the Association luxembourgeoise des services d'eau (Aluseau) invited to their press conference "Virstellung vum neien Drénkwaassergesetz"today. During this press conference, the law of 23 December 2022 on the quality of water intended for human consumption and amending the amended law of 19 December 2008 on water was presented.
As an introduction, Minister Joëlle Welfring explained the historical background of the Drinking Water Law and its general structure. Tom Schaul, advisor at the Ministry of the Environment, then presented the law in detail. Emile Eicher, president of Syvicol, emphasised the special role and responsibility of the municipalities in the supply of drinking water. The Water Law of 2008 stipulates that the municipalities are responsible for the distribution of drinking water. The privatisation of drinking water is therefore prohibited by Luxembourg law. In this respect, Syvicol is committed to greater cooperation between the municipalities and the associations of municipalities. Mr. Georges Kraus, president of Aluseau, then shared this opinion by reminding us of the important role of Aluseau, which is to facilitate the implementation and technical understanding of the law on drinking water by the municipalities.
Drinking water in Luxembourg
Luxembourg's drinking water is made up of half groundwater and half surface water (Lac de la Haute-Sûre). Regular consumption of drinking water has doubled in Luxembourg over the last 15 years. Drinking water is therefore increasingly considered as a local and reliable food. This confidence is perfectly justified, with over 99% of drinking water analyses being in conformity.
In order to guarantee the security of the drinking water supply, the government has set itself a strategy to ensure the long-term supply of drinking water. This strategy is based on 3 interconnected pillars:
- Protection of existing resources
- Saving water
- Development of new resources
Why change the law?
The growing interest in drinking water is not only reflected in increased consumption, but also in the success of the right2water initiative. In 2013, the initiative collected around 1.8 million signatures. Among other things, this initiative is about better access to drinking water - for everyone. Due to the great success of this initiative, the European Commission has decided to revise the 1998 Drinking Water Directive. The aim of the new directive is to improve both the "right towater" and the "right ofwater". The new version of the Drinking Water Directive must be implemented throughout the European Union by 12 January 2023. Luxembourg is therefore within the deadline, taking into account that the new law came into force on 1 January 2023.
With the amendments we presented today, we have integrated this European directive into national legislation.
What are the main elements of the new drinking water law?
The new lawreplaces the Grand Ducal Regulation of 7 October 2002, which until now regulated the quality of drinking water. Many of the points of this regulation, such as the parameters that define the quality of drinking water, are maintained.
The main changes are as follows:
- Updating of the quality standards
- Adoption of a risk-based approach
- Regulation of materials in contact with water
- Improved access to water
- Improved information to the public
- System of effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions
What are the main deadlines of the new law?
"Ech sinn immens houfreg kënnen ze soen, dass mir zu Lëtzebuerg eng Virreiderroll anhuelen, well mir eloscho vill Mesurenëmgesat hunn déi déi europäesch Direktiv eréischt fir an de kommendeJoere virgesinn huet.",underlines Minister Joëlle Welfring.
The European directive provides for a number of deadlines. Luxembourg, however, has higher ambitions and has made it a priority to achieve these objectives as soon as possible. Thus, the risk management in drinking water and supply areas ("Water Safety Plan") has already been implemented. From this year onwards, the Drëpsi Certificate of Excellence will be awarded to water suppliers who have demonstrated particular performance.
1 January 2023
- The new law enters into force
2024:
- First assessment of leaks in drinking water systems.
- First list of materials that may be used in contact with drinking water.
12.01.2026:
- Quality standards are updated.
12.07.2027:
- Risk analyses are carried out in drinking water protection zones.
01.01.2029:
- Drinking water dispensers will be installed in public places.
- Drinking water is distributed to public buildings and administrations.
12.01.2029:
- Risk analyses are carried out on public drinking water networks.
- Risk analyses are carried out in domestic networks.
Press release by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, the Water Management Agency (AGE), the syndicate of Luxembourg's cities and municipalities (Syvicol) and the Luxembourg Association of Water utilities (Aluseau)
FAQs
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was passed by Congress in 1974, with amendments added in 1986 and 1996, to protect our drinking water.
What three provisions the law says of the Safe Drinking Water Act? ›
In accordance with the SDWA, the EPA regulates contaminants if the following three criteria are met: (1) the contaminant might have adverse health effects; (2) there is substantial likelihood that the contaminant will occur in public water systems at levels of public health concern; and (3) its regulation will reduce ...
Did Congress pass the Safe Drinking Water Act? ›
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was originally passed by Congress in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the nation's public drinking water supply. Read the SDWA Overview.
What was the purpose of the Safe Drinking Water Act? ›
(1974) The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was established to protect the quality of drinking water in the U.S. This law focuses on all waters actually or potentially designed for drinking use, whether from above ground or underground sources.
What's the rule for drinking water? ›
So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men. About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women.
What is OSHA's drinking water policy? ›
OSHA Standards require an employer to provide potable water in the workplace and permit employees to drink it. Potable water includes tap water that is safe for drinking. Employers cannot require employees to pay for water that is provided.
How does the EPA enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act? ›
Compliance and Enforcement:
National drinking water standards are legally enforceable, which means that both US EPA and states can take enforcement actions against water systems not meeting safety standards. US EPA and states may issue administrative orders, take legal actions, or fine utilities.
What were the amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act? ›
In 1996, Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act to emphasize sound science and risk-based standard setting, small water supply system flexibility and technical assistance, community-empowered source water assessment and protection, public right-to-know, and water system infrastructure assistance through a ...
Is US tap water safe to drink? ›
The United States has one of the safest and most reliable drinking water systems in the world. Every year, millions of people living in the United States get their tap water from a public community water system. The drinking water that is supplied to our homes comes from either a surface water or ground water source.
Who was the president during the Clean Water Act? ›
All that began to change on November 3, 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Clean Waters Restoration Act.
Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to sweeping amendments in 1972. As amended in 1972, the law became commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). The 1972 amendments: Established the basic structure for regulating pollutant discharges into the waters of the United States.
Who opposed the Clean Water Act of 1972? ›
1972 was an election year, and after a first term notable for its environmental policy achievements, then President Nixon vetoed the bill in an attempt to cast his fiscal conservatism against his already flagging opponent, George McGovern.
Has the Safe Drinking Water Act been successful? ›
An entire industry of civil engineers, public health professionals, water quality experts, scientific researchers, and more has sprung up to support safe drinking water. By these measures and others, SDWA has succeeded.
Is the Safe Drinking Water Act constitutional? ›
Legal Basis of the Clean Water Act: Like every law of the land, the Clean Water Act (CWA) finds its legal basis in the United States Constitution.
What president passed the Safe Drinking Water Act? ›
In 1974, President Gerald Ford signed into law the Safe Drinking Water Act, the first piece of legislation of its kind to provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for overseeing the nation's drinking water supply.
What is the American rule of water law? ›
Reasonable Use Rule
Some states have adopted the doctrine of reasonable use, or the American rule, which requires the water to be put to a reasonable use on the overlying tract of land and does not permit water to be taken to another tract.
What is the water regulation in the US? ›
The Safe Drinking Water Act is the principal federal law governing public water systems. These systems provide drinking water through pipes or other constructed conveyances to at least 15 service connections, or serve an average of at least 25 people for at least 60 days a year.
What is the water Act in USA? ›
Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to sweeping amendments in 1972. As amended in 1972, the law became commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). The 1972 amendments: Established the basic structure for regulating pollutant discharges into the waters of the United States.
What is the main US law governing water pollution? ›
As amended in 1977 (P.L. 95-217), this law became commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). The CWA is the principle law governing pollution control and water quality of the Nation's waterways.
