Various human activities leave their footprint on the water quality in the River Meuse. Water quality of the Meuse has improved strongly for the past decades including for its use as a source for the production of drinking water. General parameters such as oxygen, nutrients and chloride but also heavy metal are no longer an issue for drinking water production. A number of substances however is regularly breeching standards for surface water from which drinking water may be produced or the target values of the water suppliers. Currently we distinguish 19 substances which are drinking water relevant. The method which is used to determine drinking water relevancy and to candidate new substances which might become drinking water relevant is described in this report.
The following issues are relevant when using the River Meuse as a source for the production of drinking water:
- Plant protection in agriculture and the use of herbicides outside agriculture;
- Pharmaceuticals, X-ray contrast media and endocrine disrupting chemicals;
- Industrial substances (which are also present in consumer products);
- Climate change.