Last week, during the IFAT Munich, the VDMA Valve Manufacturers Association addressed European drinking water regulation, which it believes should be significantly more uniform.
A central issue for the drinking water industry is the inconsistency between national and European regulations, some of which are even contradictory. This particularly affects the regulation of lead and the different threshold values. Dr. Laura Dorfer, Managing Director of the VDMA, points out that these discrepancies do not provide planning or investment security for manufacturers.
Elisa Sasserath Kentsch, Deputy Chairwoman of the VDMA Building Valves section and a member of the management team at Hans Sasserath GmbH & Co. KG, also views this as critical and emphasizes the need for harmonized drinking water regulation in Europe. “Therefore, we demand regulations that apply equally to all and whose compliance is also monitored within a European market surveillance framework”, explains Sasserath Kentsch.
This is the only way to maintain the industry at a competitive level and ensure responsible and safe water management.
Industry Delivers Solutions for Tomorrow's Challenges
By using hygienic materials for drinking water and water-efficient technologies, the valve industry significantly contributes to the preservation of the drinking water resource. The German Environment Agency awards top marks for the quality of drinking water in Germany – a quality level that, according to Dorfer, should be maintained. “German manufacturers of water technology are aware of the global challenges in water supply. […] The industry is already providing solutions for tomorrow's challenges”, she says.
At IFAT, there was much to see in this regard, including smart water filtration technology, automatic leak protection systems, and valves designed for water-saving and safe water usage. The use of water-efficient valves in a building can save large amounts of drinking water. Water saving and hygiene requirements can be reconciled through water management systems. The valve industry also contributes to the regulation of water hardness through water treatment systems.
