In a recent Borealis webinar, our experts Álvaro Pérez and Patrick Bradler unpacked the sweeping changes introduced by the European Drinking Water Directive (DWD)—a regulation that’s set to reshape the industry by December 31, 2026. The directive, which was published in 2024 after years of work, aims to harmonize drinking water standards across Europe, replacing fragmented national regulations and reducing costly redundancies in certification.
The DWD applies to all EU member states and several non-EU countries. It introduces:
The EU Drinking Water Directive brings both challenges and opportunities for Pipe business.
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“As a European citizen, it is comforting to know that the EU considers the security of drinking water supply—both in quantity and quality—as a major issue to care about. We’re moving from a patchwork of national rules to a unified European framework. This is a huge opportunity to reduce costs, improve competitiveness, and ensure safer water for everyone.”
Álvaro Pérez, Application Marketing Manager for Drinking Water
Álvaro shared the The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA) study on the cost of the lack of harmonized certification, that has cost the industry over EUR 100 million annually in external testing alone. The new directive aims to eliminate these inefficiencies by introducing a single certification valid across Europe.
According to Patrick Bradler, Application Development Engineer for Infrastructure, the certification process under the new directive involves:
“Pipes will mostly fall into the highest risk group,” Patrick noted, “which means the most rigorous testing and ongoing quality control. But this also ensures the highest safety standards for consumers.”
Patrick Bradler, Application Development Engineer for Infrastructure
Both speakers emphasized the importance of value chain collaboration - from raw material suppliers to manufacturers, labs, and notifying bodies. Álvaro summed it up well:
“We have three years to prepare. The only way to succeed is through continuous collaboration and knowledge sharing.”