Drinking Water: Commission moves against Spain and Portugal

The European Commission has decided to make an application to the European Court of Justice against Portugal and to send two warning letters (Reasoned Opinions) to Spain for non-respect of the Drinking Water Directive. In the case of Portugal, the legislation needed to give effect to the Directive on the Azores is incomplete and the mandatory drinking water standards at Ribeira Grande on the same islands are not being respected. In the case of Spain, both decisions relate to breaches of the Directive's standards in several municipalities in the province of Alicante, in particular for nitrates, magnesium and sulphates.

Commenting on the decisions, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said: "Good quality drinking water should be a first priority. I urge the Portuguese and Spanish authorities to make every effort to deal with the problems identified by the Commission ".

The Drinking Water Directive (Council Directive 80/778/EEC relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption) is a key instrument for safeguarding public health, establishing quality standards that must be respected where water is supplied for consumption.