Equitable access to drinking-water: focus on European Union member states

Laura Huber; Bettina Rickert; Oliver Schmoll; Márta Vargha

doi:10.2166/washdev.2024.170

journal article Open Access Nov 01, 2024

Equitable access to drinking-water: focus on European Union member states

Laura Huber

Bettina Rickert Oliver Schmoll Márta Vargha

Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development Vol. 14 No. 11 pp. 1169-1181 · IWA Publishing

View at Publisher Save 10.2166/washdev.2024.170

Abstract

ABSTRACT
The European Union's (EU) 2020 Drinking Water Directive (DWD) requires member states to advance equitable access to drinking-water and to promote tap water. Although access to drinking-water is high in most EU member states, disparities still exist, for example, among vulnerable and marginalized groups such as the homeless, Roma, and traveller groups. To analyze challenges and measures taken in high-income EU member states, we reviewed national reports from the UNECE/WHO Protocol on Water and Health and conducted a survey and interviews among water regulators. Reported barriers include insufficient data, a lack of mechanisms to identify vulnerable and marginalized groups, a lack of investment in rural areas, affordability concerns, and limited coordination between institutions. Measures comprise improving data on access by vulnerable and marginalized groups, introducing or revising social tariffs, and directing funding to rural areas. As the barriers are crosscutting, the involvement of all relevant institutions is crucial, and coordination and cooperation between the national and local level is indispensable. The DWD creates momentum for progressing equitable access in the EU and is expected to foster evidence-based government actions to improve equitable access to drinking-water.

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References

Details

Published: Nov 01, 2024
Vol/Issue: 14(11)
Pages: 1169-1181
License: View

Authors

L

Laura Huber

a German Environment Agency (UBA), WHO Collaborating Centre for Research on Drinking-Water Hygiene, Berlin, Germany

B

Bettina Rickert

a German Environment Agency (UBA), WHO Collaborating Centre for Research on Drinking-Water Hygiene, Berlin, Germany

O

Oliver Schmoll

b WHO Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Germany

M

Márta Vargha

c Department of Public Health Laboratories and Methodology, National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy, WHO Collaborating Centre on Environmental Risk Management, Budapest, Hungary

Cite This Article

Laura Huber, Bettina Rickert, Oliver Schmoll, et al. (2024). Equitable access to drinking-water: focus on European Union member states. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 14(11), 1169-1181. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2024.170

Equitable access to drinking-water: focus on European Union member states

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