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ARTICLE · 01 APRIL 2026

Horizon Scanner: Energy Planning Infrastructure And Construction March 2026 - Environment And Planning

Arthur Cox
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The European Council has formally adopted the Directive on updating the list of pollutants affecting surface water and groundwater.

IrelandEnvironment
Arthur Cox
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COUNCIL AGREES ON UPDATES TO LIST OF WATER POLLUTANTS

The European Council has formally adopted the Directive on updating the list of pollutants affecting surface water and groundwater. The list includes pesticides, pharmaceuticals, PFAS and bisphenols. The new rules will introduce a requirement to assess the cumulative risk of combined substances. Effect-based monitoring will be introduced for surface water, and Member States will be permitted to use remote sensing and earth observation technologies for their monitoring.

The European Parliament is expected to hold the final vote on the Directive by the end of March 2026. Member States will have until 2039 to comply with the new standards for surface water and groundwater. The earlier deadline of 2033 applies to substances with more stringent environmental quality standards in surface water.

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