New substances on EU list of water pollutants

Legislation updating the lists of surface and groundwater pollutants to improve water resilience and reduce water pollution came into effect in May 2026. The updated lists are in line with the latest scientific recommendations and ensure that substances are monitored more closely and subject to more stringent controls.

What changes have been made to the list of water pollutants?

The EU Directive amending the lists of pollutants in surface and groundwater came into force on May 11, 2026. The legal acts that will be adapted to the new regulations are the Water Framework Directive, the Environmental Quality Standards Directive and the Groundwater Directive.

Newly identified substances harmful to the environment and human health have been added to the list of water pollutants. These include some PFAS, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. For the first time, the regulations also address microplastics, antimicrobial resistance indicators and sensitive groundwater ecosystems. They introduce a new method for assessing the cumulative impact of pollutants on water quality, instead of measuring the quantity/volume of individual substances. This allows monitoring to be more accurate and effective.

We wrote about regulations for a harmonized way to monitor levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water in a previous article: PFAS in drinking water – new EU regulations

In addition, the revised regulations update the limit values for pollutants already included in the lists. Six substances that no longer pose a threat in the EU, thanks to actions taken to ban or restrict their use, have been transferred to the new lists, which apply at the national level.

Reporting obligations of EU member states

The revised regulations simplify the reporting obligations of EU member states and make it easier to share monitoring data with the European Commission through digital tools to be developed in cooperation with the European Environment Agency. The regulations also define the “non-deterioration” principle and allow for more flexible application in specific cases. This is intended to facilitate retrofitting work, such as bridge reconstruction or flood control work, which can temporarily affect water quality, as well as activities that move pollutants without increasing the amount of pollution, such as construction dewatering or sediment removal.

When will the new regulations take effect?

EU countries are required to implement the new regulations by December 22, 2027. According to the European Commission’s announcements, the lists of pollutants will continue to be reviewed regularly and updated as necessary.

European Chemicals Agency

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) ensures the safe use of chemicals. It implements groundbreaking EU regulations, which translates positively into human health, the environment, innovation and competitiveness in Europe.

ECHA’s responsibilities include:

• Supporting companies in complying with specific EU regulations on the use of chemicals or biocides;
• Cooperation with international organizations and stakeholders to promote the safe use of chemicals;
• Providing information on chemicals and their safe use through a free database;
• Working with the European Commission and EU governments to identify substances of concern;
• Decision-making on risk management at the EU level.

The current regulatory changes give the European Chemicals Agency an important role in preparing future revisions and standards through more unified rules, in line with the Commission’s goal of facilitating the One Substance, One Assessment (OSOA) approach, according to the Strategy on Chemicals for Sustainable Development.

The One Substance, One Assessment legislation, which came into effect on January 1, 2026, is expected to make chemical assessments more consistent, transparent and efficient across EU legislation, covering products such as toys, food, pesticides and biocides. The new framework will also help identify risks earlier and take faster regulatory action when necessary, strengthening protection of the environment and human health.

A common chemicals data platform is to be launched within the next three years, according to the EC, which will be a central point for collecting information under various EU regulations. This will give public authorities better access to information on chemicals, allowing them to make better decisions.