[Drinking water quality and safety]

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Regulatory Affairs

Background:

• Drinking water legislation aims to ensure water quality and safety for human consumption.
• European Union Directive 98/83/EC sets binding quality criteria, implemented in Spain via Royal Decree 140/2003.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review drinking water legislation and assess its impact on water quality in Catalonia.
• To analyze empirical data on drinking water quality improvements and identify future legislative needs.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of analytical data from the Spanish national information system (SINAC) for Catalonia.
• Review of management experiences in Barcelona concerning trihalomethanes and lead compliance.
• Identification of challenges and areas for improvement in current drinking water legislation.

Main Results:

• Water quality in Catalonia showed improvement, with suitability for consumption rising from 88% in 2004 to 95% in 2014.
• Improvements are linked to organoleptic characteristics and drinking water treatment process monitoring.
• Specific case studies on trihalomethanes and lead management in Barcelona are discussed.

Conclusions:

• Current drinking water legislation has positively impacted water quality in Catalonia.
• Updates to Directive 98/83/EC are needed to incorporate scientific knowledge and enhance consumer data access.
• Further regulatory definition is required for materials in contact with drinking water and domestic equipment.