© Marlène Clement
By 2027 at the latest, all EU waters – including streams, rivers, and groundwater – are expected to reach a good ecological status.
In line with the EU Water Directive, Luxembourg has implemented a series of projects and measures to ensure high-quality drinking water, with a key focus on protecting water sources.
In urban areas, protection zones are established around sources to prevent contamination. Groundwater naturally filters many substances through rock and soil, but this alone is insufficient to meet drinking water standards, explains Annick Frising, responsible for the city’s source water quality.
"This means the water must be treated. At the plant, we use sand filters and activated carbon filters, which remove substances that cause problems – specifically pesticides, their metabolites, and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – from the water."
After treatment, the water is disinfected and lightly chlorinated before reaching reservoirs. However, preventive protection is always better than corrective treatment, emphasises Brigitte Lambert, head of the Groundwater and Drinking Water Unit at the Water Management Agency.
"It is essential that waters and their catchment areas are optimally protected, that individual risks are identified, and that they are managed."
Lambert also stresses the role of citizens in safeguarding water resources. Simple measures – like shorter showers or installing water-saving shower heads – can collectively reduce water consumption and the need for additional treatment.
Luxembourg’s drinking water is roughly 50% groundwater and 50% surface water. Under the Drinking Water Act, the water is closely monitored, with 6,500 analyses conducted annually. According to the Clean Drinking Water Index, Luxembourg ranks third among the 27 EU member states, with a compliance rate of over 99.8%.
Watch the full report in Luxembourgish
