Directive Amending the Surface Water and Groundwater Pollutant Lists

This Directive amends the Water Framework Directive, the Groundwater Directive and the Environmental Quality Standards Directive, updating the lists of pollutants and the environmental quality standards for surface water and groundwater. Main elements: new PFAS standards (for surface water, the sum of 25 PFAS expressed as PFOA equivalents; for groundwater, the sum of 20 PFAS and a combined value of 0.0044 µg/L for PFHxS/PFOS/PFOA/PFNA); bisphenol A listed as a priority hazardous substance; new standards for pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, primidone); a standard for the sum of pesticides and a harmonised list of metabolites (by 2028-05); emissions of priority hazardous substances must be phased out within 20 years of their designation; watch lists for surface water (up to 10 substances) and groundwater (up to 5 substances), with mandatory monitoring of microplastics and antimicrobial resistance indicators once methods are sufficiently developed; ECHA takes over scientific support; chemical data are reported electronically via Reportnet every two years and biological data every three years; the Commission must assess the feasibility of extended producer responsibility by 2029.