[Some comments on the 2nd European drinking water guideline]

It took 18 years before issuing a revised version of the first EU Drinking Water Guideline. As is well known, it did not receive unanimous acclaim neither by the water supply nor by the public health authorities. The second guideline has now been released and can be welcomed as a quite logically constructed and consistent version in comparison to its predecessor. Borderline values are stated only for those microbiological and chemical ingredients of water that are relevant to health. These borderline values must be considered as minimum deadlines and may not be raised by a member country although their severity may be increased. Basing on recent toxicological findings some of the borderline values have been raised or lowered compared to the previous version. On the other hand, however, the aesthetic aspects of drinking water have been neglected. In this respect we may look forward with interest as to how German legislation will implement the new guideline. This will have to be done at the latest by 2000 A.D. end.