New Challenges Of Water Pollution In Europe And Their Socio-Economical Impact

Since 1970, public water policy is part of European framework. The quality of water has always been a concern in the European Union policy. Framework Directive (WFD) of 23 October 2000 (Directive 2000/60) which aims to give coherence to the whole of the legislation with an overall EU policy in the field of water comes just confirm this reality. However, the continuous rise of pollution in the aqueous medium requires permanent vigilance of the engineers in charge of processing as well as responsible legislators of standards of water quality. That is why researchers are constantly working on the most persistent micro-pollutants in the environment. This scientific vigilance is unfortunately with an impact on the economy. Indeed, the cost of investments made in response to the pollution affects the price of water. This study presents the socio-economic impact of water pollution by the news persistent pollutant as nitrate, pharmaceutical and pesticides in Europe. It aims to assess the cost of socio-economic damage linked to the deterioration of water quality. The results show that pollution causes an increase markedly the annual price of water for households, increased grant requirements, a rise of certain diseases and even an impairment of the natural heritage of the people. This is well illustrated by the example of Alsace region in France where from 1988 to 2002, the region because of the pollution has been an increase of about 30 euro per year on water bills per household of 4 people. An amount that would have been between 60 and 100 euro per year per household if the community had not benefited from substantial subsidies. The increase in nitrate content generated more than 10 million euro expenditure in a brewery of the region and the loss of the natural heritage of its population was estimated between 16 and 24 million euro per year; or 180 million to 170 million euro in these 15 years.