The evolution of the EU drinking water policy towards a source-to-mouth approach

The four-decade evolution of drinking water policy of the European Union is analysed using a policy change framework through documentary analysis and in-depth interviews. Our findings suggest that this policy has always targeted the protection of human health while inching closer to the concept of ‘...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Andries, Delia Marina, Garrido, Alberto, De Stefano, Lucia
Formato: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Recursos:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/119226
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/119226
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:628.1(4)
Water policy
Policy change
European Union drinking water policy
Risk-based approach
Hidrología
2508 Hidrología
Descrição
Resumo:The four-decade evolution of drinking water policy of the European Union is analysed using a policy change framework through documentary analysis and in-depth interviews. Our findings suggest that this policy has always targeted the protection of human health while inching closer to the concept of ‘safely managed drinking water’, which implies the protection of the sources of drinking water and the application of a risk-based approach to the entire water supply chain. Influenced by a variety of factors, it has experienced incremental changes leading to more comprehensive provisions while seeking flexibility to accommodate the diversity of Member States forming the Union.