Implementing the Drinking Water Directive : water quality and access to it improved in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, but investment needs remain substantial; Special report No 12, 2017

This report examines whether EU actions improved the quality of drinking water in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania as required by the 1998 Drinking Water Directive. Overall, we conclude that the situation has improved significantly. Nevertheless, there are still areas where citizens are supplied with water from the public supply network that is not fully in compliance with EU standards. Moreover, significant further national public and private funding will be needed to ensure access to good quality water to all citizens in these Member States and to ensure that EU funded investments in water facilities can be adequately maintained. Among other things, we recommend that several remaining issues are addressed in the context of the current revision of the Drinking Water Directive and that the sustainability of water infrastructure is ensured while safeguarding the affordability of the service.