Regulation
99 Intelligence Briefs
Broad opposition to new revision Water Framework Directive
This summer, the European Commission will present a proposal to adapt the Water Framework Directive (WFD) to facilitate mining activities. This plan is facing widespread opposition and calls to leave the recently revised WFD unchanged are growing louder. Members of the European Parliament, environme
Seven EU countries taken to Court for failing to protect critical entities
The European Commission has referred Bulgaria, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Sweden to the European Court of Justice for failing to transpose the Directive on Critical Entities Resilience (CER). Among these critical entities are drinking water companies, water management or
New framework prevents pollution urban water runoff
The completion of an innovative project to prevent and manage diffuse pollution from urban runoff is providing benefits to water utilities, policymakers and urban planners. D4Runoff, which commenced in September 2022, has created a framework for prevention and management of this type of under studie
EPA launches WRAP 2.0 water reuse initiative
In April, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin launched the Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP) 2.0, a revamped effort from the first Trump administration to accelerate water reuse in the United States. In 2020, the first Trump Administration launched WRAP in partnership wi
How to feed 10 billion people? On the management of water resources in agriculture
Researchers' calculations show that modern agricultural water management (AWM) practices can only sustainably provide food for 3.4 billion people. There is no way they can cover the consumption needs of a population of 10 billion in 2050. Experts at the World Bank suggest what needs to change to cou
EPA designates microplastics, pharmaceuticals as priority contaminants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released for public comment a draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6) that includes microplastics and pharmaceuticals for the first time. The draft list was announced at an event by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin along with a setRead More
Trade associations warn Commission of economic risks of weakening WFD
The European Commission is investigating how to revise the Water Framework Directive to facilitate mining and industrial activities. Last week, eight trade associations sent a warning letter to the European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Ro
Carney announces new national nature strategy
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a new $3.8 billion nature strategy, A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature, with a strong marine and watershed component on March 31. […]
EPA seeking input on CWA Financial Capability Guidance
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on its Clean Water Act Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) guidance. This non-regulatory guidance is an important resource that helps local water bills remain affordable as wastewater systems plan for needed infrastructure upgr
The Water Paradox: When Mismanagement Matters More Than Scarcity
Edward Barbier asks the question every water professional should confront: if water is so valuable and increasingly scarce, why is it so consistently mismanaged? His answer — spanning millennia, dozens of countries, and rigorous economic analysis — concludes that the global water crisis is not prima
Rescue Engineers invests to address new California hexavalent chromium regulations
Rescue Engineers announced Feb. 12 it will invest several million dollars to increase its operational capacity for the California public water utilities market to address new regulations involving hexavalent chromium. […]
Ofwat publishes final Climate Change Principles for England and Wales’ water sector
Ofwat has published its Final Climate Change Principles, setting out a principles-based framework to guide how water companies respond to the growing risks posed by climate change. The regulator...
Water crises in Montevideo and Rio de Janeiro: an opportunity for privatization?
Analysis L21 | Water crises in Montevideo and Rio de Janeiro: an opportunity for privatization?
New EU-wide regulations on protection against PFAS in drinking water
Under the new regulations, Member States must monitor levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water in a harmonised manner in order to ensure compliance with the new EU limit values. These are set out in the recast Drinking Water Directive. Member States will also be require
Meat tax. Can higher food prices reduce emissions?
How can society be persuaded to adopt a diet based on plant products, which is far more beneficial for the global climate? Scientists from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research (PIK) suggest introducing a meat tax, arguing that expensive hamburgers will encourage people to choose plant-based fo
Sweden adapts rules on materials in contact with drinking water
The government is imposing requirements linked to the EU’s Drinking Water Directive. Manufacturers must ensure that products in contact with drinking water are made from end materials that have been tested and approved in accordance with new EU legislation. The government is proposing amendments to
Water demand for AI expected to surge, new research says
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is set to drive a 129% increase in global water demand across the AI value chain by 2050, according to new research by Xylem and Global Water Intelligence (GWI). A new report, Watering the New Economy: Managing the ImpactsRead More
Alberta expands, adds Water Act exemptions
The Alberta government is expanding Water Act exemptions to make storing and using water easier for stakeholders. The new and expanded exemptions will “increase water availability, improve conservation, support agricultural […]
UK Water Reform: £104 Billion in Infrastructure, But Will Anyone Check if It Works?
The UK's biggest water reforms since 1989 reveal a hard truth: £190 billion in infrastructure failed because nobody checked if it worked.
EU implements stricter monitoring of PFAS in drinking water
New EU regulations require Member States to monitor per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water in line with the updated Drinking Water Directive. Under these rules, Member States...
The Dublin Conference: When Water Management Discovered Operational Excellence—Then Promptly Forgot About It
Thirty-three years ago, the International Conference on Water and the Environment produced four brilliant principles that transformed water policy discourse worldwide. Today, utilities spend hundreds of billions on infrastructure while those same principles gather dust on institutional shelves—a pat
U.S. House passes energy and water funding bill, but final water allocations still ahead
On Jan. 8, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a three-bill appropriations package that includes the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,...
Quebec chemical plant fined $1.35 million for sodium chlorite dumping
The government of Canada ordered Superior General Partner Inc. on Jan. 7 to pay a fine of $1.35 million by the Court of Québec for violating the Fisheries Act. The company […]
AI data centers consume millions of liters per day, threatening local water security
AI growth is driving a rapid buildout of data centers across the United States in areas already short on clean water, forcing cities and towns to compete with
Government says 2025 saw biggest reforms in a decade for water sector
The government says that 2025 has been a landmark year of action on water, with the biggest reforms in a decade and decisive action taken to reset the water sector, strengthen regulation and drive long-term investment.
Washington's Bold Move: UNEA-7 Gone Too Far?
In a significant development that underscores growing tensions between the United States and multilateral environmental institutions, Washington has expressed serious concerns that the United Nations …
Reshaping the Water Balance of the Middle East
The GAP Project built 22 dams and 19 power plants in Türkiye, altering the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and reshaping the water balance of the Middle East.
When Water Accounting Meets Reality: Why Agricultural Water Management Fails
Punjab's crisis reveals the fundamental problem plaguing agricultural water management globally: sophisticated policy frameworks and ambitious targets fail completely without operational excellence in execution.
California’s drying Salton Sea harms the lungs of people living nearby, say researchers
Experts suspect that dust from the sea contains endotoxic bacteria membranes caused by fertilizer runoff Chemical-laden dust from southern California’s drying Salton Sea is likely harming the lungs of people around the shrinking body of water, and the effects are especially pronounced in children, n
Elevating Government to Market Standards: A Review of "The Third Pillar"
In "The Third Pillar," former IMF Chief Economist Raghuram Rajan argues that society rests on three essential pillars: the state, markets, and community. When these fall out of balance, the consequences ripple through every aspect of our lives.
Mexico's Water Reforms: A Turning Point for Irrigation District Management
Mexico's Water Reforms: A Turning Point for Irrigation District Management November 8, 2025 Mexico stands at a pivotal moment in water governance. President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration has prop…
Amazon strategised about keeping its datacentres’ full water use secret, leaked document shows
Executives at world’s biggest datacenter owner grappled with disclosing information about water used to help power facilities Amazon strategised about keeping the public in the dark over the true extent of its datacentres’ water use, a leaked internal document reveals. The biggest owner of datacentr
Alberta proposes major update to Water Act to meet rising demand
The Government of Alberta has introduced legislation to update its Water Act, aiming to simplify licensing, improve transparency and support growing demand for water across the province. Bill 7, the Water […]
The G7 Water Coalition: A Bold New Plan to Address the Global Water Crisis
*Canada leads ambitious three-year initiative to protect and restore the world's freshwater resources* Water is life. It sustains ecosystems, drives economies, and determines the health and wellbeing …
Calgary-based FREDsense raises $7M to expand rapid PFAS testing technology
FREDsense Technologies Corp. has secured US $7 million in Series A financing to scale up its rapid testing tools aimed at tracking per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to […]
Water and sanitation research SDG soars despite gaps
The Arab region’s share in global productivity of scientific research papers related to Sustainable Development Goal 6 – clean water and sanitatio...
Managing PFAS contamination in water:evolving approach
The federal government manages a portfolio of over 20,000 contaminated sites across Canada, many of which are located at military bases, airports, and firefighting training facilities where PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) were historically used. Some larger WWTPs in Canada have in
Alberta Cuts Red Tape to Support Riparian Restoration
To ensure that plants receive the water they need, Alberta is removing the requirement to have a temporary diversion licence to water plants as part of a riparian restoration project. This change will…
Which European countries have nationalised water?
Seven countries stand out for having over 90% of their bathing waters rated as excellent, and all of them operate water services that are more than 90% publicly owned.
Denied entry: How dams stop freshwater species from migrating
And what we can do to help them complete their journeys
Brussels starts enforcement of recast Drinking Water Directive
The European Commission recently initiated procedures against eight Member States for failing to transpose the recast Drinking Water Directive correctly into national law. In June Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal received a letter of formal notice and in July letters to Ireland,
Under-fire water regulator could be scrapped
An independent review of the water industry is to recommend sweeping changes to the way the sector is managed, including the potential replacement of Ofwat with a strengthened body combining economic and environmental regulation.
Argentina privatize Water Utilities
Argentina's government has announced it's starting the privatization process for the country's public water company, Aguas y Saneamientos Argentinos (AySA). Specifically, the Argentine executive branch will transfer 90% of the state's shares in AySA to private capital, with the remaining 10% going t
Wales to get own water watchdog as Ofwat scrapped
The Welsh government is to take on Ofwat's job amid major changes to how water is regulated.
Flint’s water crisis enters new chapter as lead pipe replacement is complete
A decade after lead contaminated water was found in Flint, Michigan’s water system, the legal battle to replace lead water pipes is finished, a landmark milestone for a city defined by its dangerous...
EEA identifies water saving measures for EU’s most water-intensive sectors
Sectors that use the most water also offer the greatest potential for savings. That’s why the European Environment Agency (EEA) has identified sectors responsible for the highest levels of water abstraction in the EU and proposed targeted efficiency measures. These findings are outlined in the new r
UK Government enforces stricter rules on sewage pollution and nature-based solutions
Water companies must be transparent in their efforts to prevent pollution from 23rd June as a new legal requirement in the Water (Special Measures) Act comes into force (Section 3). New rules make...
Wildfires threaten water quality for years after they burn
Years after wildfires burn forests and watersheds, the contaminants left behind continue to poison rivers and streams across the Western U.S. — much longer than scientists estimated. A new study led...
New study shows huge groundwater losses along Colorado River
As the amount of water in the Colorado River shrinks, more farms and cities are turning to groundwater, which is less regulated.
A very long Nile, or 6,650 km of problems
Who owns the water of the Nile and what is its most dangerous inhabitant? Most of us know very little about the world’s longest river, and it's high time to change that. Especially since, according to scientists, the Nile is shrinking with each passing decade, while the lives and well-being of more
Call Issued For Urgent UK Water Sector Reform
Urgent calls for reform of the water sector in the UK have been issued by a team of researchers from the Centre for Environmental Policy (CEP) at Imperial College London, with a symposium taking place earlier this year to discuss how the various challenges could be addressed. The CEP’s professor Nic
How medieval lessons for managing floods could help those facing them in northern Italy today
Living with a river rather than fighting it was how medieval people were able to survive
EC introduces 10% water saving objectives to create awareness in Water Resilience Strategy
The European Commission is asking all Member States to reduce their water use by ten per cent by 2030. These water saving objectives are part of the Water Resilience Strategy that was presented today by European commissioner Jessika Roswall. “Member States can choose how to achieve this reduction. F
Private water tanker mafia exploits groundwater as govt agencies remain mute spectators
The severe depletion of groundwater levels this summer created favourable conditions for private water tanker operators to thrive in their business
Spain to ban flushing wet wipes? Manufacturers to pay
The Spanish government has come up with a plan to address the harmful environmental impact of wet wipes. It also wants to find funding to remove their residue from the environment. A draft royal decree has just been published, which proposes a ban on flushing wet wipes down the toilet. There are als
Ohio lawmakers introduce bipartisan bill to eliminate lead water lines in 15 years
Ohio lawmakers have taken a step toward ensuring clean, safe drinking water for all residents with the introduction of the Lead Line Replacement Act, a sweeping bipartisan effort to eliminate every...
Report highlights regulatory gaps in Nestlé mineral water case
A French Senate report released this week stated that the French government failed to disclose information related to the treatment of mineral water by Nestlé, allowing the company to use processes...
Record 81 criminal investigations launched into water companies in England
A record 81 criminal investigations into water companies have been launched in England since the last election, as part of a sweeping Government crackdown on sewage pollution. The initiative, led by...
Leaked Water Resilience Strategy: Many positive elements but shifting PFAS burden to water service providers
The Water Resilience Strategy due to be presented on 4 June is likely to contain many positive elements, according to a leaked version. The document rightly prioritises nature-based solutions and calls for a whole-society approach towards increased water efficiency. EurEau also fully subscribes to e
EPA announces it will keep maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will keep the current National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)...
Study identifies strategies to mitigate laughing gas emissions during wastewater treatment
Laughing gas (nitrous oxide or N₂O) is primarily released by the microorganisms responsible for cleaning our wastewater. These microbes live in complex communities, with each group performing a...
Water condition analysis on the property during the issuance of a water permit
At first glance, it may not be clear whether the issuance of a water permit requires consideration of whether its execution will impact the water condition on the property, more precisely, whether it may cause a change in the water condition on the property to the detriment of neighboring lands. The
Sinking cities: The quiet crisis hitting urban America
Twenty-eight major U.S. cities, including New York, Dallas, and Seattle, are seeing urban areas sink by 2 to 10 millimeters per year, according to new research from Virginia Tech. The major cause is...
Temperature, Precipitation Impact Water Fetching Time in Africa
In the arid and semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, access to clean and safe water remains a pervasive challenge that profoundly shapes the daily lives of millions. A groundbreaking study recently published in Nature Communications sheds new light on how climatic variables, specifically tempera
Water reserves drained due to political decisions, Audit Office report finds
Cyprus depleted critical water reserves through political decisions between 2017 and 2023, forcing the government to seek emergency desalination assistance from the United Arab Emirates to survive this summer, an Audit Office report has revealed. The Audit Office report, which examined the Water Dev
UK water bosses can now face prison under new crackdown on illegal sewage pollution
Senior executives at water companies who conceal illegal sewage spills could now face up to two years in prison, as tough new powers come into force under the Government’s Water (Special Measures)...
Utah’s Fluoride Ban in Drinking Water Won’t Settle Dispute on Safety
On March 27, amid a flourish of national attention, Utah’s Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed much-debated legislation that bans adding fluoride to the state’s public drinking water systems. The ban, which takes effect on May 7, is the first by a state to outlaw community water fluoridation sinc
Forde: Dumping negatively impacting water supply
Minister of Environment and National Beautification Adrian Forde has linked illegal dumping to worsening water quality and scarcity in Barbados, backing a proposed $20 000 fine under the new Storm…
EPA enforcement actions at 10 California facilities address chemical safety deficiencies
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing settlements with organicgirl, LLC and nine other entities with facilities across California for claims of chemical safety-related violations under the Clean Air Act. All entities agreed to come into compliance with Risk Management P
Planned closure of federal center in Georgia triggers worries about ability to monitor water quality
The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper considers Fulton County pollution drama as a reason to sound the alarm over the now-uncertain future of the U.S. Geological Survey’s South Atlantic Water Science Center in Norcross.
How clans control access to water in city (India)
By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 21: A new study on water governance in Shillong, published in the journal of the World Water Council, reveals that the dorbar shnongs or traditional village councils, along with the clan system, play a decisive role in the management and distribution of water across t
Preventing waste in Europe. Findings from the latest EEA report
The European Environment Agency's report Preventing Waste in Europe - Progress and Challenges, with a special focus on food waste, was published on March 31, 2025.
Inland waters increasingly low in oxygen
Inland waters - lakes, rivers and artificial reservoirs - are an important component of the global biogeochemical system
BREAKING: Mexico to make ‘immediate’ water payment to US as Trump threatens sanctions
Hours after President Donald Trump threatened Mexico with additional tariffs over a massive water debt, that country's president publicly vowed to make a substantial payment soon.
Agriculture: Deepening water crisis
Pakistan, home to over 250 million people, is edging close to a deeper water crisis. Climate change is tightening its grip, with rising temperatures, shrinking glaciers, and increasingly erratic rainfall. As a result, the water supply has become less reliable than ever. Hotter days mean higher evapo
Swedish study finds fluoride in drinking water affects children’s health
Fluoride occurs naturally as fluoride ions in drinking water, but levels are low in municipal drinking water in Sweden. In some countries such as the USA, Canada, Chile, Australia and Ireland, it is common to add fluoride to municipal drinking water to prevent caries, usually at around 0.7 mg fluori
a cosmic idea of the British to monitor pollution
Untreated wastewater continues to be discharged into the environment in many countries. Unfortunately, the situation in the UK is a case in point - it is estimated that only 14% of rivers there meet environmental standards. Water quality monitoring reveals that as many as 75% of estuaries flowing di
Water is no longer business as usual
Europe must take leadership in the transition to water-smart societies
EPA to revise Water of the U.S. rule
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced last week that EPA will work with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to review the definition of “waters of the United States.” EPA said it will move quickly to ensure that a revised definitionRead More
Tonnes of microplastics infiltrate Australia’s agricultural soils each year, study shows
Without swift and effective action, composting may become an environmental crisis, rather than a solution.
Strengthening Canada’s freshwater future: Government of Canada appoints new President of the Canada Water Agency
The Government of Canada announced the appointment of Mark Fisher as the President of the new Canada Water Agency, reporting to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Fresh water is essential to the well-being of Canadians, the health and sustainability of the environment, and the economy.
Water sector lauds bipartisan PFAS legislation
The Water Coalition Against PFAS, a coalition of water sector associations whose membership represents all facets of clean and safe water delivery, is strongly supporting the reintroduction legislation that would protect utilities and ratepayers from having to bear the costs of PFAS cleanup. The Wat
Trump EPA to overhaul WaterSense program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin said his agency under the Trump administration intends to overhaul the WaterSense labeling program for water-efficient products. “The Biden Admin weaponized energy efficiency rules to restrict consumer choice with home appliances,”
EPA Reviews Nitrate Limits in Drinking Water as Cancer Concerns Grow
A March 2024 Public Health study found that even at levels below EPA's safety standards, nitrate in drinking water increases the risk of cancer-related deaths by 73%.
5 Takeaways From Our Reporting on Toxic Sludge Fertilizer
It is now studying the risks of PFAS in sludge fertilizer, also known as biosolids, in order “to better understand the scope of farms that may have applied contaminated biosolids and develop targeted interventions to support farmers and protect the food supply,” the agency said in a statement. It es
What sewage to water ratio are you comfortable with?
The recent flooding has got me thinking: I wonder how much sewage was released into the waterways as a result […]
Federal legislation seeks to shield water, wastewater utilities from PFAS costs
By Hannah Grover Federal lawmakers are once again seeking to protect drinking water and wastewater utilities from some of the costs associated with PFAS contamination. A bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washington, and Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, if enacted, would shiel
Unregulated Industrial Contaminants Detected in Some U.S. Drinking Water
Communities of color are more likely to have higher levels of these contaminants in their drinking water.
Navigating the complexities of discharge regulations in industrial water/wastewater
A: Wastewater discharge regulations are highly complex, with multiple federal acts, state-specific regulations and additional industry and site-specific regulations that must be considered. In this Q&A, he shares his insights on how companies can effectively navigate discharge regulations, keep up w
Complaints spike over water companies’ failure to deal with environment concerns
Complaints to the water consumer watchdog at highest level for nearly a decade, with complaints about the environment fuelling surge.
The Shocking Truth: Why Canadian Regulators are Lagging Behind
The chemicals — found in everything from cosmetics and cookware to diapers and clothing — have been linked to a range of illnesses, including cancer and liver disease. A U.S. government study warning …
EPA acknowledges potential dangers from PFAS in sewage sludge
In a study published Tuesday, the EPA acknowledged that PFAS in sludge used as fertilizer can taint crops, water and soil. The contaminated sludge is then used as a fertilizer on farms where it can taint crops, water and soil.
Former Yoncalla water plant operator facing charges
YONCALLA — The former operator of the Yoncalla wastewater treatment facility is facing criminal charges after authorities said he fabricated data on required testing of wastewater at the site, and
Trump picked Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA. What will that mean for environmental policy?
What to expect: deregulation justified as boosts for the economy, and platitudes about the importance of clean air and water.
COP29: Governments, industry must up action on methane - DW
Greenhouse gas methane is behind a third of planetary heating and is relatively easy to slash. The tools to cut methane exist but so does a gap between pledges on methane reduction and action, says a new UN report.
London protesters demand water companies clean up sewage-tainted rivers
Holding signs with slogans including “stop the plop” and “species not feces,” thousands of people marched in London on Sunday to demand a cleanup of Britain’s sewage-clogged waterways . Water pollution has become an increasingly high-profile issue in Britain, focusing attention on climate change and
New draft limits on PFAS in Australia's drinking water released by national medical research body
Now, Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has released a draft update to its 2018 guidelines around safe levels of PFAS in our drinking water. The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains higher levels of some types of PFAS are safer in water than those in the new NHMRC
Associations file opening brief in PFAS case
On Oct. 7, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) filed the organizations’ opening brief with the United States Court of Appeals in the case of AWWA vs. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), related to EPA’s final drinking water re
New Agency: Canada strengthens protection of freshwater with launch of standalone Canada Water Agency
WINNIPEG, MB – Fresh water is our most precious natural resource, needed for drinking, cleaning and sanitation, recreation, industry, agriculture, and ecosystem health. Water is also sacred to many Indigenous peoples and honoured as a giver of life. Yet, fresh water in Canada is under increasing pre