Directive 1975/440 - Quality required of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water in the Member States - Main contents

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Council Directive 75/440/EEC of 16 June 1975 concerning the quality required of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water in the Member States

Official Journal L 194 , 25/07/1975 P. 0026 - 0031

Greek special edition: Chapter 15 Volume 1 P. 0080

Spanish special edition: Chapter 15 Volume 1 P. 0123

Portuguese special edition Chapter 15 Volume 1 P. 0123

Finnish special edition: Chapter 15 Volume 1 P. 0232

Swedish special edition: Chapter 15 Volume 1 P. 0232

DE L 328 25/07/1975 P. 0034-0039

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 16 June 1975 concerning the quality required of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water in the Member States (75/440/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES;

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 100 and 235 thereof;

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament (1);

Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2);

Whereas the increasing use of water resources for the abstraction of water for human consumption necessitates a reduction in the pollution of water and its protection against subsequent deterioration;

Whereas it is necessary to protect public health and, to this end, to exercise surveillance over surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water and over the purification treatment of such water;

Whereas any disparity between the provisions on the quality required of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water already applicable or in preparation in the various Member States may create unequal conditions of competition and thus directly affect the functioning of the common market ; whereas it is therefore necessary to approximate laws in this field as provided for in Article 100 of the Treaty;

Whereas it seems necessary for this approximation of laws to be accompanied by Community action so that one of the aims of the Community in the sphere of protection of the environment and improvement of the quality of life can be achieved by wider regulations ; whereas certain specific provisions to this effect should therefore be laid down ; whereas Article 235 of the Treaty should be invoked as the powers required for this purpose have not been provided by the Treaty;

Whereas the programme of action of the European Communities on the environment (3) provides that quality objectives are to be jointly drawn up fixing the various requirements which an environment must meet inter alia the definition of parametric values for water, including surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water;

Whereas the joint fixing of minimum quality requirements for surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water precludes neither more stringent requirements in the case of such water otherwise utilized nor the requirements imposed by aquatic life;

Whereas it will be necessary to review in the light of new technical and scientific knowledge the parametric values defining the quality of surface water used for the abstraction of drinking water;

Whereas the methods currently being worked out for water sampling and for measuring the parameters defining the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water are to be covered by a Directive to be adopted as soon as possible,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

• 1. 

  This Directive concerns the quality requirements which surface fresh water used or intended for use in the abstraction of drinking water, hereinafter called "surface water", must meet after application of appropriate treatment. Ground water, brackish water and water intended to replenish (1)OJ No C 62, 30.5.1974, p. 7. (2)OJ No C 109, 19.9.1974, p. 41. (3)OJ No C 112, 20.12.1973, p. 3.

water-bearing beds shall not be subject to this...

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