Drinking water: Europe opens infringement proceedings against Italy (second time)

©Phước Sang via Unsplash

The European Commission has opened infringement proceedings against Italy for failure to correctly transpose the Drinking Water Directive.

This is the second infringement procedure regarding water policies in the timeframe of four months. Italy is once again under scrutiny for its management of water resources.

The European Commission has launched a new infringement procedure against Italy for the "incomplete and incorrect" transposition of the updated drinking water directive, EU Directive 2020/2184.

The EU Drinking Water Directive, updated in 2020, had a clear objective: to guarantee safer, better-controlled water accessible to all. Member states had until January 12, 2023 to comply. Italy has formally done so, but according to Brussels, it has gone about it the wrong way.

Why Europe is calling Italy to order

A number of critical points are in the spotlight:

• insufficient checks on domestic systems (building piping) ;
• lack of information on access to water for the most vulnerable;
• absence of clear limits for certain harmful substances from pesticides;
• excessive recourse to derogations and postponements of planned obligations.

In short, regulations do exist, but they are not applied effectively or comprehensively.

Microplastics and endocrine disruptors: the new risks

The revision of the directive is no mere technical detail: for the first time, it introduces concrete attention to "emerging pollutants". These include substances such as :

• microplastics;
• endocrine disruptors
• chemical residues not yet fully regulated.

All of which are likely to have an impact on human health and the environment, and require more rigorous, up-to-date monitoring.

And this is not an isolated episode: back in January, Italy had already been the subject of proceedings for incorrect application of the Water Framework Directive, which concerns the overall management of rivers, lakes and groundwater.

In this case, the critical points concerned :

• withdrawal authorizations that had not been updated;
• insufficient controls;
• risk of overexploitation of water resources.

What happens now

The government now has two months to respond to the Commission. If the explanations are not deemed sufficient, the procedure will take its course:

• issue of a reasoned opinion by the EU;
• formal request for compliance;
• possible appeal to the European Court of Justice.

This could result in financial penalties.

Why this concerns us all

Because we're talking about

• the quality of the water we drink every day;
• the protection of public health ;
• the preservation of ecosystems;
• sustainable management of an increasingly scarce resource.

In a context marked by climate crisis, drought and over-consumption, water is becoming a central issue - and European rules are there precisely to prevent this.European rules are there precisely to prevent it from being managed inefficiently or at risk.

(©GreenMe.it 2026/Managing editor : Selma Keshkire - The Press Junction/Picture : Phước Sang via Unsplash)