The new Portuguese framework for the prevention and control of Legionnaires’ diseases is compatible with the flexibility allowed under the European Union’s overhauled tap water rules, a Portuguese health expert has told EURACTIV.com.
Ricardo Santos, head of the water microbiology laboratory at Lisbon University’s Instituto Superior Técnico praised the EU’s revision of the Drinking Water Directive (DWD) that updates parameters of water quality set more than 20 years ago.
“It is important that the new directive starts to take into account other pathogenic organisms as, up to now, the only microbial indicator in tap water is for E. coli,” he said.