The Emerging Contaminants in the Context of the EU Water Framework Directive

The WFD (Water Framework Directive) requires that good chemical status of surface waterbodies is achieved by all member states of the European Union by 2015. The assessment of the chemical status is based on monitoring of the list of priority substances included in the Annex X of the WFD. In August 2013, the Directive 2013/39/EU has been published and contains a revised list of priority substances for the European aquatic environments and the derivation of environmental quality standards in the water column and biota: 12 new substances were selected through a procedure of prioritisation based on a simplified risk assessment methodology with the use of monitoring and modelling data collected over a period of 4 years. In the list of the 12 new substances, also emerging contaminants and some biocides are included. The Commission is establishing a so-called watch list of substances for which Union-wide monitoring data are to be gathered for the purpose of supporting future prioritisation exercises. For the substances diclofenac, beta-estradiol (E2) and 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2), the Directive has foreseen a monitoring obligation in order to gather data to facilitate the determination of appropriate measures to address the risk to surface waters posed by those substances. Furthermore, on the basis of the outcome of a study on the risks posed by medicinal products in the environment and of other relevant studies and reports, the Commission shall develop a strategic approach to pollution of water by pharmaceutical substances.