Quality of water intended for human consumption. Drinking Water Directive

By adopting the report on bathing water the committee has set out the lines for a future EU water policy. The rapporteur, Mr Kenneth COLLINS (PSE, UK) welcomed the proposals by Council and Commission, but had, with other MEPs, tabled a great number of amendments to ensure that the future water policy of the Community will, indeed, be "watertight". In June 1995, the environment committee held a public hearing, the main conclusion of which was that there is an urgent need to review the existing series of water quality directives and decisions. Rapporteur COLLINS referred to the six principles on which EU water quality legislation should be based: no repeal of water protection without guarantees that provisions will be taken up in other directives; a hierarchy of water policy priorities to ensure safe water supplies and to arrest further decline of water quality and purify polluted water; consistency of definitions and comparable data to ensure effective auditing of compliance; information available to the public; the use of the most appropriate technology and techniques; and an open, democratic input at all stages. The proposed directive on bathing water has the aim of protection the environment and public health and developing tourism. Information on the quality of bathing water is an important element in tourism development.�