Drinking Water Standards

The drinking water ordinance in Germany was established on May 21, 2001, based on the food law from 1975. It stipulates the standards that drinking water needs to meet, and specifies the chemical, biological and physical treatment methods that are permissible. Drinking water must be free of pathogens. There are certain content limits, for instance regarding arsenic, nitrate, nitrite, organic chlorine compounds and pesticides – these may not be exceeded.