Council: adoption of a directive updating the list of pollutants affecting water quality, including PFAS

The Council has formally adopted (90,29% in favour) the directive updating the list of pollutants affecting surface water and groundwater, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and PFAS, announced it on 17/02/2026.

The text amends the Water framework directive, the Groundwater directive and the directive on environmental quality standards, "aligning EU water policy with the latest scientific evidence".

The EU-wide list of these substances has now been expanded and updated, adding 25 new ones. In addition to the rules for monitoring and reducing the release of identified dangerous substances and pollutants, the directive "introduces rules to assess the cumulative risk of combined substances".

"Several pollutants that are already on the list will now be subject to tighter environmental quality standards. To support future reviews, the directive also adds microplastics and antimicrobial resistance indicators to the EU’s water watchlists, which help track substances of emerging concern", according to the Council.

"Water is an utmost priority of the Cyprus presidency, and protecting its…