Drinking Water Directive Research Articles

Distribution of Natural Trace Elements in the Drinking Water Sources of Hungary

Source water quality is a key determinant of drinking water quality. The recast European Union 2020/2184 Drinking Water Directive (DWD) introduced the obligation for comprehensive risk assessment in drinking water supplies, including hazard assessment of the water source. The DWD also requires further elements of natural origin to be monitored, including U, Ca, Mg and K. The current study is the first comprehensive assessment of 15 natural elements (B, Ba, Be, Ca, Co, K, Li, Mg, Mo, Na, Se, Sr, Ti, U and V) in 1155 (82%) Hungarian drinking water sources, including surface water, bank filtered and groundwater sources. Parameters posing a risk to health (Se, V and U) were typically below the limit of quantification (LOQ), but higher concentrations (max. 7.0, 17 and 41 µg/L, respectively) may occur in confined locations. U exceeded the DWD parametric value in one water supply. Mg and Ca in the majority of the water supplies and Li in a small geographic area reached the concentration range assumed to be protective to health. Water sources were grouped in six clusters based on their elemental distribution, some of them also showing clear geographical patterns. Surface and groundwater sources were not differentiated by composition, with the exception of karstic waters (dominated by Ca and Mg). None of the investigated parameters are expected to be a source of public health concern on a national level, but local occurrences of U and Se should be investigated and managed on a case-by-case basis.

Water quality for citizen confidence: The implementation process of 2020 EU Drinking Water Directive in Nordic countries

Water quality for citizen confidence: The implementation process of 2020 EU Drinking Water Directive in Nordic countries

Beyond the Drinking Water Directive: The use of reporter gene assays as an added tool for effect-based monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in drinking water sources

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are legacy organic micropollutants (OMPs) that are sporadically detected in drinking water (DW) sources. The European Drinking Water Directive requires EU member states to monitor 5 PAHs in DW and its sources. The Dutch national regulations require 6 additional PAHs to be monitored and 7 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These indicator compounds act as representatives for large compound classes. PCBs alone comprise 209 congeners, it is evident that conventional chemical target analysis (GC-tQ-MS) alone is not sufficient to monitor these entire compound classes. This study investigated the application of reporter gene assays as effect-based methods (EBMs) to monitor PAHs and PCBs in DW sources. Herein, it was assessed what added value the bioassays can bring compared to the current approach of chemical target analysis for PCBs and PAHs. Regulated and non-regulated PAHs and PCBs were tested in four bioassays to determine the relative potency factors (RPFs) for these compounds. Non-regulated congeners were found to be active in the PAH-CALUX and anti-AR CALUX. An assessment of surface water (SW) spiked with standard mixtures containing PAHs and PCBs confirmed the predictable behavior of the PAH-CALUX. Moreover, the bioassay was able to detect AhR-mediated activity caused by non-regulated PAHs and PCBs, whereas this would have been missed by conventional chemical target analysis. Last, a field study was conducted in Dutch DW sources at six sampling moments. The PAH-CALUX detected AhR-mediated activity at all sampling moments and an ecological effect-based trigger (EBT) value was exceeded on multiple accounts. Combined application of GC-tQ-MS and the PAH-CALUX ensures compliancy with monitoring legislation and provides additional insights into potential hazards to humans and the environment.

Cyanotoxin Occurrence and Diversity in 98 Cyanobacterial Blooms from Swedish Lakes and the Baltic Sea.

The Drinking Water Directive (EU) 2020/2184 includes the parameter microcystin LR, a cyanotoxin, which drinking water producers need to analyze if the water source has potential for cyanobacterial blooms. In light of the increasing occurrences of cyanobacterial blooms worldwide and given that more than 50 percent of the drinking water in Sweden is produced from surface water, both fresh and brackish, the need for improved knowledge about cyanotoxin occurrence and cyanobacterial diversity has increased. In this study, a total of 98 cyanobacterial blooms were sampled in 2016-2017 and identified based on their toxin production and taxonomical compositions. The surface water samples from freshwater lakes throughout Sweden including brackish water from eight east coast locations along the Baltic Sea were analyzed for their toxin content with LC-MS/MS and taxonomic composition with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Both the extracellular and the total toxin content were analyzed. Microcystin's prevalence was highest with presence in 82% of blooms, of which as a free toxin in 39% of blooms. Saxitoxins were found in 36% of blooms in which the congener decarbamoylsaxitoxin (dcSTX) was detected for the first time in Swedish surface waters at four sampling sites. Anatoxins were most rarely detected, followed by cylindrospermopsin, which were found in 6% and 10% of samples, respectively. As expected, nodularin was detected in samples collected from the Baltic Sea only. The cyanobacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with the highest abundance and prevalence could be annotated to Aphanizomenon NIES-81 and the second most profuse cyanobacterial taxon to Microcystis PCC 7914. In addition, two correlations were found, one between Aphanizomenon NIES-81 and saxitoxins and another between Microcystis PCC 7914 and microcystins. This study is of value to drinking water management and scientists involved in recognizing and controlling toxic cyanobacteria blooms.

Temporal and spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Danube River in Hungary

The Danube is a significant transboundary river on a global scale, with several tributaries. The effluents from industrial operations and wastewater treatment plants have an impact on the river's aquatic ecosystem. These discharges provide a significant threat to aquatic life by deteriorating the quality of water and sediment. Hence, a total of 16 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds were analyzed at six locations along the river, covering a period of 12 months. The objective was to explore the temporal and spatial fluctuations of these chemicals in both water and sediment. The study revealed a significant fluctuation in the concentration of PAHs in water throughout the year, with levels ranging from 224.8 ng/L during the summer to 365.8 ng/L during the winter. Similarly, the concentration of PAHs in sediment samples varied from 316.7 ng/g in dry weight during the summer to 422.9 ng/g in dry weight during the winter. According to the Europe Drinking Water Directive, the levels of PAHs exceeded the permitted limit of 100 ng/L, resulting in a 124.8% rise in summer and a 265.8% increase in winter. The results suggest that the potential human-caused sources of PAHs were mostly derived from pyrolytic and pyrogenic processes, with pyrogenic sources being more dominant. Assessment of sediment quality standards (SQGs) showed that the levels of PAHs in sediments were below the Effect Range Low (ERL), except for acenaphthylene (Acy) and fluorene (Fl) concentrations. This suggests that there could be occasional biological consequences. The cumulative Individual Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) exceeds 1/104 for both adults and children in all sites.

Water Quality and Associated Human Health Risk Assessment Related to Some Ions and Trace Elements in a Series of Rural Roma Communities in Transylvania, Romania

This research aims to assess the content of some ions and trace elements in water sources in 24 rural Roma communities in Transylvania in order to assess the human health risk associated with exposure to such elements and ions. To this end, eight ions (F−, Cl−, Br−, NO2−, NO3−, SO42−, PO43−, NH4+) and ten trace elements (Cr, Ni, As, Pb, Cd, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Hg) were determined in 71 water samples by ion chromatography coupled with a conductivity detector for ions and atomic absorption spectrophotometry for all trace elements. General parameters were also determined. Non-conformity (as number of samples), according to the EU Drinking Water Directive, was observed as follows: pH (7), EC (7), hardness (1), oxidizability (15), Cl− (4), NO3− (30), SO42− (6), Fe (16), Mn (14), As (3), and Ni (1 sample). The incidence of ions was Cl− (71), SO42− (70), F− (67), NO3− (65), NH4+ (21), Br− (10), PO43−, and NO2− (1 sample) and for trace elements, Mn (59), Fe (50), As (38), Ni (32), Cu (29), Zn (28), Cd (12), Cr (11), and Pb (3 samples). Hg was not detected. Non-carcinogenic (HI) values exceeded one for As in 13 Roma communities, with higher values for children than for adults. For NO3−, the HI values were >1 in 12 for adults and 14 communities for children. The carcinogenic risk (CR) for As through ingestion ranged from 0.795 to 3.50 × 10−4 for adults and from 1.215 to 5.30 × 10−4 for children. CR by dermal contact was in the range of ×10−6 both for adults and children.

Implementing risk-based approaches to improve drinking water quality in small water supplies in the Nordic region - barriers and solutions.

Small water supplies face similar problems worldwide, regardless of ownership or management type. Non-compliance with water quality regulations is more frequent in small supplies than in large ones, as are waterborne disease outbreaks. The new European Union Drinking Water Directive requires risk-based approach (RBA) to secure water safety as is recommended in the World Health Organization's Guidelines for drinking water quality through 'water safety plans'. This is already in regulation in the Nordic countries, although less used in small supplies. In this research, we explore the challenges, barriers and possible solutions to implementing RBA and improving compliance in small supplies. This was achieved by conducting and analysing interviews with 53 stakeholders from all eight Nordic countries to produce recommendations for action by the different implicated actors. Our findings suggest the centrality of governmental policy, including support for continuous training, provision of simple RBA guidelines and increasing cooperation in the water sector. The Nordic experience reflects global challenges with small water supplies and the trend towards systematic preventive management epitomized in the framework for drinking water safety advocated by the World Health Organization since 2004.

Complex monitoring of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from tap drinking water in the Czech Republic

This study aims to quantify perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in tap drinking water in the Czech Republic and to assess potential health risks to consumers using hazard ratios. A total of 192 samples (collected systematically throughout the country in 2021) were analysed for 28 PFAS using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry after solid phase extraction. Total PFAS (∑PFAS) concentrations ranged from undetectable to 23.9 ng/L. Long-chain PFAS (≥7 CF2 groups) were detected less frequently and at lower concentrations compared to short-chain (< 6 CF2 groups) homologues. Detectability and ∑PFAS concentrations in surface and combined water sources (median 2.97 ng/L) samples were higher than in groundwater sources (median 0.48 ng/L). With regard to the new Drinking Water Directive (EU 2020/2184), the parameter “sum of PFAS”, defined as the sum of 20 selected PFAS, was five times lower than the minimum acceptable dose in the most contaminated sample. The occurrence of PFAS in the Czech Republic is thus very low and comparable to other recent European studies. Consumption of any of the tested waters would not pose a moderate risk for adults, and only about 1% of the samples could pose a potential health risk.

The occurrence and persistence of PFAS at riverbank filtration sites in the Upper Danube basin

PFAS are a class of synthetic chemicals used for many industrial and domestic purposes. However, once released in the environment, they are persistent, mobile and toxic. One of the most important transport routes to drinking water is through riverbank filtration. Although this is usually an effective strategy for removing many organic compounds, its effectiveness in removing PFAS is still unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the occurrence, as well as the spatial distribution of PFAS at riverbank filtration sites and compare these to two pharmaceuticals and various chemical parameters. A one-year sampling campaign was carried out at four transects with different characteristics along the Danube river. Samples were analysed using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry.Results show that most of the detected PFAS compounds had concentrations lower than 10 ng/l. NaADONA had the highest concentration at all the sites, indicating the presence of an emission source upstream of the monitored sites. For most compounds, there was no concentration reduction between the river and groundwater, implying that no removal processes take place. This was further confirmed with statistical tests, which showed no significant differences between river- and groundwater concentrations. Two sites in Budapest showed higher concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and GenX in the background water compared to the river, indicating an inland source of these compounds. The current situation imposes no problems for drinking water as the measured concentrations are lower than the legal limit set by the EU Drinking Water Directive. However, any future legal or industrial changes could create problems since results suggest that these compounds are not removed during riverbank filtration.

Development and validation of a GC × GC-ToFMS method for the quantification of pesticides in environmental waters

Water is a fundamental resource for living things, which is why its control is necessary. The widespread use of pesticides for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes has resulted in the presence of their residues in surface water and groundwater resources. Their presence in water is regulated through different directives, such as the Groundwater Directive, the Drinking Water Directive, and the Water Framework Directive, modified later several times, setting a maximum concentration of 0.1 µg.L−1 for individual pesticides and their degradation products, and 0.5 µg.L−1 for total pesticide residues present in a sample. There are different kinds of pesticides (e.g., organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides, triazines, chloroacetamides, triazoles, (thio)carbamates) that have diverse chemical structures. Their determination and monitoring in a single analytical procedure are possible through multiresidue methods. In this study, 53 pesticides belonging to different chemical classes and their metabolites were selected based on their local occurrence and investigated in surface water and groundwater from agricultural areas susceptible to pesticide contamination. The methodology consisted of a classical solid-phase extraction (SPE) for the purification and enrichment of the pesticides, with a subsequent analysis in multidimensional gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS). The quantification method was validated according to the Eurachem Guide in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection, and limit of quantification. After validation, the method was applied to 34 real-world water samples, and the results were compared with those obtained by a GC-QMS routine method.

Ecological and health risk assessment and quantitative source apportionment of dissolved metals in ponds used for drinking and irrigation purposes.

In this study, dissolved metal levels of 10 different ponds used as irrigation and drinking water sources in the north of Saros Bay (Türkiye) were evaluated using multivariate statistical methods, contamination and ecological risk indices, and absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR). The mean levels of metals in the ponds ranged from 0.045µg/L (Cd) to 127µg/L (Mn). Pond 7 used for drinking water source had the lowest total metal level. Only Mn levels in two ponds (P1 and P2) slightly exceeded the critical value set by EU Drinking Water Directive. However, the levels of all metals in all ponds were lower than the critical values set for irrigation water and aquatic life. According to the heavy metal pollution index (HPI), five ponds showed low metal pollution in terms of drinking water quality, four ponds showed moderate metal pollution, and one pond (P1) showed moderate to heavy pollution. According to the Nemerow pollution index (NPI) values (0.26-1.82), ponds P1 and P2 showed slight metal pollution, while other ponds showed insignificant metal pollution. Contamination degree (CD) values of ponds varied between 0.95 and 3.33, indicating that all ponds showed low pollution. In terms of irrigation water quality, all ponds showed low or insignificant metal pollution according to the HPI, NPI, and CD values. According to the ecological risk index (ERI) values, metals in all ponds posed low ecological risks for both drinking and irrigation purposes. Factor analysis identified two potential sources: mixed sources and natural sources. The APCS-MLR model results revealed that mixed sources and natural sources contributed 78.99% and 21.01% to dissolved metals in the ponds, respectively. Health risk assessment results indicated that both individual and combined metals in the ponds would not cause non-carcinogenic risks to both adults and children. Similarly, it was found that Cr and As would not cause carcinogenic risks to the residents of the region.

PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl new compounds in the Drinking Water Directive – screening studies of surface and underground water resources

PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl new compounds in the Drinking Water Directive – screening studies of surface and underground water resources

The Right to Water and Sustainable Consumption in EU Law

The right to water has gathered momentum in recent years in Europe, having become the subject of the first European citizens’ initiative and emerging as a human right. The right to water, however, is in constant, and not always linear, evolution as it faces fundamental trade-offs; on the one hand, access to clean and affordable water is essential to ensure a basic standard of living. On the other, water is an increasingly limited resource, so unfettered access to it increases the threat of scarcity and pollution. This article examines the interplay between the right to water and sustainable consumption objectives, exploring how innovation in regulation and best practice could reduce the risks to health and water scarcity. As water regulation affects multiple areas of law, the article will examine the right to water and sustainable consumption from a human rights’ angle and taking a consumer law and environmental protection perspective. A particular focus will be on the Water Framework Directive and the recently revised Drinking Water Directive, examining incentives that promote water rights and sustainable water use. Key regulatory instruments will be evaluated, ranging from information and education tools to economic and social incentives. Finally, the article will propose new measures to align the right to water with the objective of sustainable consumption.

The CASPER project: an integrated approach for pollution risk assessment in peri-urban groundwater catchment areas

Abstract. In 2020, the European Union has established a recast of the 1998 EU Directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption, hereafter called Drinking Water Directive – DWD. One of the most significant innovative point in this recast is the introduction of an innovative “complete risk-based approach to water safety, covering the whole supply chain from the catchment area, abstraction, treatment, storage and distribution to the point of compliance” (article 7). In practice, a 3-level risk assessment and risk management is expected: (1) at the level of the catchment area (article 8), (2) at the level of the water supply systems (article 9) and (3) at the level of the domestic distribution system (article 10). In this context, the CASPER project, funded by SPGE in the Walloon Region of Belgium, aims at developing an integrated approach for the evaluation and management of pollution risks for peri-urban groundwater catchments. The approach, which fully complies with the requirements of the DWD recast, consists of several key components. First, point and diffuse pollution sources are identified in the groundwater catchment area based on a mapping of hazardous activities combined with a specific groundwater monitoring survey aiming at identifying specific tracers of such sources of pollution. In a second step, risks associated to each of the identified source of pollution is estimated based on the measurement of pollutant mass fluxes and mass discharges downgradient these sources. Finally, a groundwater flow and transport model is developed at the scale of the groundwater catchment area, with the aim of evaluating the cumulative effect of the multiple sources on groundwater quality deterioration in the catchment and at the abstraction points. The objective here is to describe the CASPER approach and to illustrate it using ongoing investigations in a peri-urban groundwater catchment exploiting groundwater from a chalk aquifer in Western Belgium.

ANALYSIS OF THE RADON CONCENTRATIONS IN NATURAL MINERAL AND TAP WATER USING LUCAS CELLS TECHNIQUE

The aims of this study were to determine the radon concentration in natural mineral and tap water and to estimate the resulting ingestion doses received by adults. Physical-chemical characteristics of water samples have also been investigated. In the last years have been an increase of water consumption of both, natural mineral and tap, many sources and producers being available on the market. Thus, the physical-chemical and radiologic parameters of water must be in compliance with the Drinking Water Directive (DWD). Thus, the study presents an assessment of the radioactivity due to 222Rn and 3H in several mineral natural water samples from the north region of Romania, but also in several tap water samples. The methods used were based on gamma spectrometry, gross alpha-beta measurements and beta spectroscopy, but also ICP-MS for chemical parameters. The results of this work showed that the geology and rock types clearly influence the water radon concentration. The radon concentration is lower in the water that passes through sedimentary rocks than that passing through granitic rocks. An important aspect of this work is to provide reliable information regarding radon and tritium concentrations. Radon concentration varied between 0.15±0.05 Bq/L and 11.35±2.97 Bq/L in the natural mineral water samples and between 0.17±0.05 Bq/L and 8.51±2.34 Bq/L in the tap water samples. An estimation of annual effective radiation dose based on the sample results was also made. Calculated values for ingestion dose due to regular consumption of water does not induce a health risk because of the intake of various radionuclides contained in the water. The maximum values being of 47.38 µSv/y. The determined values for the collected samples are below recommended reference levels, but more important aspect is that this study emphasise environmental sustainability in the investigated area.

Assessment of drinking water safety in the Netherlands using nationwide exposure and mortality data.

Although drinking water in the Netherlands is generally accepted as safe, public concern about health risks of long-term intake still exist. The aim was to explore associations between drinking water quality for nitrate, water hardness, calcium and magnesium and causes-of-death as related to cardiovascular diseases amongst which coronary heart disease and colorectal cancer. We used national administrative databases on cause-specific mortality, personal characteristics, residential history, social economic indicators, air quality and drinking water quality for parameters specified by the EU Drinking Water Directive. We put together a cohort of 6,998,623 persons who were at least 30years old on January 1, 2008 and lived for at least five years on the same address. The average drinking water concentration over 2000-2010 at the production stations were used as exposure indicators. We applied age stratified Cox proportional hazards models. Magnesium was associated with a reduced risk for mortality due to coronary heart diseases: HR of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.90, 0.99) per 10mg/L increase. For mortality due to cardiovascular diseases, a 100mg/L increase in calcium was associated with a HR of 1.08 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.13) and an increase of 2.5mmol/L of water hardness with a HR of 1.06 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.10). The results show an elevated risk for coronary heart disease mortality at calcium concentrations below 30mg/L, but over the whole exposure range no exposure response relation was observed. For other combinations of drinking water quality parameters and cause-specific mortality studied, no statistical significant associations were identified. We identified in this explorative study a protective effect of magnesium for the risk of mortality to coronary heart disease. Also we found an increased risk of mortality due to cardiovascular disease associated with the concentration of calcium and the water hardness in drinking water.

Automatic Measurement System for Nitrite and Nitrate in Water Bodies

Nitrate and nitrite are reaction products that result, for example, from the application of nitrogenous fertilizers to agricultural land. That part of the nitrogen not absorbed by the plants can pass into the groundwater in the form of nitrate or nitrite. This can also lead to contamination of drinking water via the groundwater, with all its negative side effects. In the present article an automatic system is presented, which performs independently the measurement of nitrate and nitrite at a water body. For the measurement of these parameters commercially available test strips are used, which are evaluated automatically. The determination of the nitrite/nitrate value is based on the Griess reaction which leads to a color change of the test pads depending on the concentration of the analyte. The sample is applied to the test pads with an automated dispenser system and the color change is measured with an RGB sensor. The nitrate/nitrite concentration present can be determined from the R/G ratio and a nomogram. The measuring accuracy of the system meets the requirements of the European Drinking Water Directive for the determination of the nitrate and nitrite value. The limit of detection (LOD) was determined for the self-designed sensor with LOD = 2.003 mg/l for nitrate over a measurement range of 0–50 mg/l nitrate and a LOD of 0.611 mg/l nitrite over a measurement range of 0–10 mg/l nitrite and 0.013 mg/l for a measurement range of 0–1 mg/l nitrite.

Monitoring and forecasting cyanobacteria risk for a drinking water plant in Spain

Abstract Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms are a critical risk for public health since the release of cyanotoxins can reach hazardous levels in drinking water. In this study, a cost-effective monitoring programme has been developed and applied by a Spanish water operator to detect cyanobacteria presence in a drinking water plant reservoir; a total of 65 phytoplankton genera and seven cyanobacterial taxa were identified. Based on these monitoring data, different analysis techniques such as classification trees have been used to identify the potential situations of risk and to forecast cyanobacteria evolution in surface water. As a result, a new operational risk management plan has been developed and applied by the water operator since 2019. The main improvements concern the classification of the situations of risk in six groups (from low to very high, according to chlorophyl-a and cyanobacteria concentrations), the planning of the actions required under each situation (monitoring, management practice and treatment), and the use of the risk forecast to perform some of these actions from 2–3 days in advance. The methodology can be replicated to other case studies to facilitate the management of cyanobacteria risk and comply with the requirements of the revised European Drinking Water Directive adopted in 2020.

Pesticides and their metabolites in European groundwater: Comparing regulations and approaches to monitoring in France, Denmark, England and Switzerland

Pesticides, i.e. plant protection products (PPP), biocides and their metabolites, pose a serious threat to groundwater quality and groundwater dependent ecosystems. Across large parts of Europe these compounds are monitored in groundwater to ensure compliance with the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), the Groundwater Directive (GWD) and Drinking water Directive (DWD). European regulation concerning the placing of PPP on the market includes groundwater monitoring as a higher tier of the regulatory procedure. Nevertheless, the lists of compounds to be monitored vary from one directive to another and between countries. The implementation of monitoring strategies for these directives and other national drivers, differs across Europe. This is illustrated using case studies from France, Denmark (EU member states), England (part of the EU up to January 2020) and Switzerland (associated country). The collection of data (e.g. monitoring design and analytical approaches) and dissemination at national and European level and the scale of data reporting to EU is country-specific. Data generated by the implementation of WFD and DWD can be used for retrospective purposes in the context of PPP registration whereas the post-registration monitoring data generated by the product applicants are generally only directly available to the regulators. This lack of consistency and strategic coordination between thematic regulations is partly compensated by national regulations. This paper illustrates the benefits of a common framework for regulation in Europe but shows that divergent national approaches to monitoring and reporting on pesticides in groundwater makes the task of assessment across Europe challenging.

Implementation of water sector acquis in Ukraine

This paper provides an overview and analysis of the progress made by Ukraine in implementing Water Sector acquis listed in the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The paper concludes that for the most part the transposition of the respective Directives is complete. It is argued, however, that extra effort is required under the Nitrates Directive and the Drinking Water Directive. Notwithstanding tangible gains in the development of River Basin Management Plans, Flood Risk Management Plans and the adoption of the Marine Environmental Strategy of Ukraine, the implementation of the State Water Monitoring Program suffers obvious difficulties caused by the unprovoked and unjustified russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, especially in the areas of active warfare. Massive destruction of infrastructure including centralized water supply and sewerage systems is likely to hinder implementation of the Drinking Water Directive and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive in Ukraine.