The position paper by Eureau reveals the reasons and which actions should be taken. In detail, it focusses on preventing regrettable substitutions, banning BPA from hot-water installations and a swift revision of BPA limits in the Drinking Water Directive.

Characteristics and applications of Bisphenol-A

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical belonging to the group of diphenylmethane derivatives and bisphenols. It is widely used as monomer for plastic materials like polycarbonates and epoxy resins. Historically, BPA containing materials were also used for producing food and drink containers. This should end with the EU-wide ban coming into force.
Bisphenol A has a hormone-like effect and is also suspected of causing cancer. As a result, a limit value was initially set in the European Drinking Water Directive (DWD). In detail, from 12 January 2026, water suppliers will be required to comply with a parametric value of 2.5 µg/L for BPA in drinking water. Furthermore, the DWD recommends updating this value in line with evolving scientific knowledge. In 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reduced its recommended Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for BPA by a factor of 20,000 – from 4 μg per kg of body weight per day to 0.2 ng/kg/day. In surface waters, the co-legislators are currently debating whether to introduce an environmental quality standard for BPA at 0.17 ng/L or 0.034 ng/L.
As a result, Eureau expects the BPA parametric value for drinking water to face a drastic cut in the coming years.

Prevent regrettable substitutions

Banning BPA in all food contact materials is welcomed by Eureau. But now they urge policymakers to go one step further and support the REACH restriction proposed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for BPA and other bisphenols with endocrine disrupting properties. To prevent so-called regrettable substitutions, measures to limit health risks from exposure to BPA should apply equally to commonly known analogues such as BPS, BPAF and BPF. These substances are considered to exhibit even stronger estrogenic, and possible carcinogenic effects than BPA.

Problematic hot water installations

In the context of hot water installations, BPA containing epoxy resins should be avoided. Contrary to water at cold or ambient temperature, BPA is likely to be released into hot water. This is why BPA should be banned from pipes, valves, fittings etc. with residential and non-residential buildings.
In 2022, drinking water samples were taken from residential buildings by the health authorities in Baden-Württemberg in Germany and analyzed for the presence of BPA at the Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office (CVUA) Stuttgart. The buildings were selected on a risk-oriented basis with a focus on buildings with known epoxy resin remediation. The samples were usually taken within the buildings at central points of water heating (e.g. circulation, hot water storage tank) and at tapping points in flats (e.g. taps in the kitchen or bathroom).
In 87% of these samples, BPA concentrations were found that far exceeded the limit value of 2.5 µg/l for drinking water. Some of the concentrations were so high that they were toxicologically relevant.

Being aware that BPA-containing pipes still remain in service, information campaigns should raise public awareness that hot tap water should not be used when preparing food or hot drinks.