Water Companies Ask Germany to Tackle PFAS Dumping in the Rhine: ANews Story
Amsterdam, Netherlands – September 3, 2024 – Dutch drinking water companies are calling on Germany to take immediate action to curb the discharge of PFAS into the Rhine River, a crucial source of drinkingwater for millions in the Netherlands.
The Rhine River Association (RIWA-Rijn), representing water companies dependent on the Rhine, has sent a letter toGerman Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, expressing their concern over the ongoing PFAS contamination.
Dutch citizens and companies will have a growing need for clean drinking water in the coming years, stated RIWA-Rijn in the letter, but producing it is becoming increasingly expensive due to industrial discharges in Germany.
The organization highlights Germany’s failure to comply with national and European agreements on water quality and discharges. Despite commitments to include discharge limit values on permits and ultimatelyaim for zero discharges, companies in Germany are exceeding agreed-upon limits by up to ten times in some areas.
As a result, water from the Rhine contains three to four times more PFAS than is considered safe, according to RIWA-Rijn. This poses a significant threat to the health of Dutch citizensand the sustainability of drinking water production.
The agreements are there, they are just not being followed up, said RIWA-Rijn director Gerard Stroomberg. That is what we are reminding the German Minister of.
The organization also points out Germany’s participation in a collaborative effort with the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden advocating for a total ban on PFAS in the European Union.
The German government believes that PFAS compounds are so harmful that they should be banned throughout Europe, which is a position that we wholeheartedly support, said Stroomberg. But that position is not apparent inGermany’s lack of effort to prevent discharges.
RIWA-Rijn urges the German government to take decisive action, including:
- Enforcing strict limits on PFAS discharges: Setting clear limit values for PFAS quantities will encourage industries to develop better purification techniques and alternatives.
- Taking action againstcompanies violating discharge limits: Holding companies accountable for exceeding permitted levels will deter future violations.
We need Germany to take responsibility for its role in protecting the Rhine and ensuring the health of its downstream neighbors, concluded Stroomberg. The time for action is now.
This situation underscores the importance of international cooperation inaddressing environmental challenges that transcend national borders. The Rhine River is a vital resource for many countries, and its protection requires a united effort.
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