European water companies warn of rising pollution in Rhine and Meuse rivers

Water companies in Europe are raising alarms regarding the pollution levels of the Rhine and Meuse rivers, which serve as critical drinking water sources for millions.

According to the 2025 annual report from RIWA-Rijn, 86 measured parameters exceeded the target values set by the European River Memorandum. The organization is calling for stricter scrutiny of industrial permit processes, particularly in the German part of the Rhine catchment area, to prevent hard-to-remove pollutants from entering the water supply. Director Gerard Stroomberg emphasized that preventing contamination at the permit stage is more effective than attempting to filter it out during water treatment.

Simultaneously, RIWA-Maas, representing companies providing water to 7 million people in the Netherlands and Belgium, reported that water intake from the Meuse had to be temporarily suspended 56 times last year due to high pollutant levels. Director Maarten van der Ploeg criticized the lack of centralized authority and urgency in the Dutch government's response to pollution, drought, and unregulated discharges. The association is calling for better international cooperation and a single coordinating body to manage water quality.