HomeAqua Europa Task Groups
Activities of the Task Groups
At the outset of the new association, the board of directors proposed a framework of Task Groups, each dedicated to a critical industry issue with which Aqua Europa must be concerned for the future wellbeing of its members.
It is not a definitive list and it is envisaged that further groups will be formed as new associations come into membership, or as the focus of our interests shifts to take account of new concerns and trends. Not all of these Task Groups are currently active, however, but the intent was to equip the association with the means of monitoring developments in these areas and advising the board on appropriate action.
At present there are seven Task Groups (“TGs”)
- TG Italian Water Decree 443
If enacted by the Italian Government, this Decree would impose costly testing procedures on devices for the treatment of drinking water for domestic use and for use in public commercial concerns. It thus has serious potential implications not only for Italian producers of this equipment for for companies exporting from elsewhere in the EU into the Italian market and is prima facie anti-competitive in terms of current EU legislation. Therefore, although seemingly a piece of domestic legislation confined to Italy, its effects could be widespread. Vigorous lobbying by Aqua Italia has succeeded in blocking it to date, but should it emerge onto the statute book, Aqua Europa would act as a coordinating body for EU-wide representations to the European Commission under the consultation procedures provided for in Directives 98/34/EC and 98/84/EC. In the meantime, Aqua Europa is lending close support to Aqua Italia and monitoring the situation closely.
- TG 1 CEN TC 164
TG 1 has been concerned with a number of ongoing issues within CEN TC 164, including the approval of the softener standard (EN 16743) and standards for mechanical filters and chemical dosing systems. Other major issues under consideration include EGCPDW/136/EAS (complicated by delays in the implementation of the EAS), the membrane standard and a considerable workload in both WG 2 and WG 13.
- TG 2 EAS/CPDW
There is uncertainty within the EC over responsibility for the EAS, in particular, whether it properly resides in DG Enterprise or DG Environment, and resolving this administrative impasse is likely to take some considerable time. In the meantime, the Expert Group, on which an Aqua Europa representative sits, must limit its discussions to construction products in contact with drinking water, postponing for the time being the question of other materials and products, eg, resin and membranes in domestic water treatment devices. The Expert Group of the EAS will have to continue focussing its work on the activities of the sub-groups, where important decisions are made, in circumstances, however, where it is difficult to influence decisions. - TG 3 Hygienic Aspects of Drinking Water
Not currently active - TG 4 Nutrient Minerals in Drinking Water
The overwhelming focus of TG4 in the last twelve months has been in preparation for participation in the WHO/ILSI symposium, a major international even concerned with health aspects of calcium and magnesium in drinking water, held in Boston, USA, from 24th to 26th April. The eventual outcome of the deliberations of the Expert Consultation Committee which sat immediately after the conclusion of the symposium, will be of vital interest to all Aqua Europa members, and so the decision has been taken to reproduce in the Annexe to this Annual Report the evaluation of the proceedings prepared by the Joint Leaders of TG4, Tony Frost and Luciano Coccagna who attended as the representatives of Aqua Europa. - TG 5 Technical issues in relation to domestic water treatment
The establishment of this TG reflected a concern by the board of Aqua Europa at the possible implications for the market as a whole of the current policy debate in Belgium on the issue of central softening. It has also been confirmed that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair in the UK is also looking at this issue, supporting the view that a lead taken by one country, such as Belgium where the debate has progressed furthest, could generate a “copy-cat” process in other EU member states. This would affect not only the water softener/conditioner market, but would have knock-on effects elsewhere for the industry. The Task Group therefore conducting a review of current literature on scale and corrosion with a view to proposing an Aqua Europa position on the subject which would be essential in developing an association strategy in the event of the issue of central softening becoming a more widespread threat. In conjunction with Aqua Belgica, therefore, TG 4 has in hand a programme of research and evaluation of available literature on the subject. It is also monitoring relevant research. Thus, it is looking at European and US studies on the possible scale and corrosion effects of softened water as well as an evaluation of European research on the environmental impact of scaling. Aqua Europa is helping to fund Aqua Belgica work in the area. - TG 6 Large-scale water and wastewater treatment
Not currently active. - TG 7 Training
Not currently active