The European drinking water industry is entering a new era.
For decades, manufacturers selling faucets and water-contact products in Europe have had to navigate a complex landscape of national sanitary approvals. Different countries required different certifications, different testing protocols, and different compliance strategies. What worked in one market did not always guarantee acceptance in another. This reality is now changing.
The Drinking Water Directive (DWD), formally known as Directive (EU) 2020/2184, is creating a standardized European framework for products and materials that come into contact with drinking water. For the first time, Europe is moving towards a common sanitary approach that aims to replace the fragmented system of national approvals with a unified set of requirements focused on protecting water quality and public health.
For faucet manufacturers, this is much more than a regulatory update. It represents a significant transformation in how products are designed, sourced, tested, manufactured and certified. While the regulation is European, its impact is global.
Any company that wants to sell faucets, cartridges, mixing valves, waterways or other components into the European market needs to understand what is changing and how to prepare for it.
From National Approvals to a European Framework
Until now, manufacturers have typically relied on national certifications such as KTW in Germany, ACS in France, KIWA approvals in the Netherlands and other country-specific sanitary requirements.
Although many of these systems share similar objectives, each comes with its own testing procedures, documentation requirements and acceptance criteria. This has increased complexity and often required multiple certification paths for products intended for different European markets.
The vision behind the regulation is often summarized as “One standard, one test, accepted throughout Europe.”
The objective is not only to standarize requirements but also to increase confidence that materials in contact with drinking water are consistently safe across all EU member states.
For manufacturers operating internationally, this shift could ultimately reduce long-term complexity. However, reaching that point requires a substantial preparation effort.
Why DWD Is Different
Many people assume DWD is simply another certification. In reality, it introduces a fundamentally different approach.
The regulation focuses exclusively on sanitary safety. It does not evaluate hydraulic performance, durability or mechanical functionality. Instead, it examines how materials and products interact with drinking water and whether they could affect water quality.
This includes:
- Material composition
- Chemical migration into drinking water
- Traceability of raw materials
- Manufacturing controls
- Production audits
- Documentation of the complete supply chain
In other words, compliance extends far beyond the final product.
Manufacturers must understand not only what they produce, but also where materials come from, how they are processed, and whether every stage of the manufacturing chain meets the required sanitary standards.
For many companies, this may be the biggest challenge introduced by the new framework.
The Importance of Positive Material Lists
One of the most significant changes under the DWD is the introduction of European positive lists.
These lists define which materials, substances and compositions are permitted for use in products that come into contact with drinking water. Only approved materials can be used within the scope of the regulation.
This means that material selection is becoming a strategic decision.
A material that performs perfectly from a mechanical perspective may not necessarily satisfy the sanitary requirements established under the new framework. As a result, manufacturers must increasingly evaluate products through two lenses:
- Technical performance
- Drinking water compliance
The companies that integrate both aspects early in the development process will be better positioned as the market evolves.
What About the Transition Period?
One of the most important aspects for manufacturers to understand is that the transition will not happen overnight.
DWD requirements become mandatory from January 2027, but a transition period will allow existing national certifications to coexist for several years, depending on country-specific implementation rules. Current expectations indicate that this transition will continue until approximately 2032, although manufacturers should closely monitor local developments.
This creates a unique situation where companies may need to manage multiple compliance strategies simultaneously.
Products already certified under systems such as KTW, ACS or KIWA may continue to have market value during the transition period, while new developments move towards DWD-oriented solutions.
The challenge is not simply obtaining future compliance. It is managing both present and future requirements at the same time.
What It Means for European Manufacturers
For manufacturers already operating within Europe, the new framework requires a reassessment of existing product portfolios. Material selections, certifications, testing plans and supplier qualifications should all be reviewed against future DWD expectations.
In many cases, companies are already evaluating:
- Alternative material technologies
- Supply chain readiness
- Production traceability
- Factory audit preparedness
Those who begin the process early, as Sedal has, will have greater flexibility and fewer risks as implementation advances.
What It Means for Non-European Manufacturers
For companies based in Asia, North America, South America or other regions, the DWD should not be viewed as a European issue only.
Europe remains one of the world’s most demanding regulatory markets for sanitary products. Requirements introduced there often influence customer expectations globally. Any manufacturer seeking access to European OEMs, faucet brands or distributors will increasingly encounter DWD-related questions during supplier evaluations.
Customers are already asking “Which materials are DWD-ready?”, or “Can components support future certification programmes?”. The ability to answer these questions clearly is becoming a competitive advantage.
Why Expertise Matters
The DWD is not simply a testing exercise.
It is a combination of regulatory understanding, material science, supplier management, manufacturing control and long-term planning.
Successful compliance requires close cooperation between engineering, quality, purchasing, regulatory and commercial teams.
At Sedal, we have been actively preparing for this transition for several years. Our teams continuously monitor regulatory developments, evaluate materials against evolving requirements, collaborate with internationally recognized laboratories and work alongside customers to understand how future regulations may affect product development decisions.
As the industry moves towards a unified European sanitary framework, manufacturers need more than compliant components. They need partners who understand the regulatory landscape and can help navigate it with confidence.
The DWD is changing the rules of the game for everyone involved in drinking water applications. Those who prepare today will be better positioned for tomorrow.
And in a market where compliance, traceability and water safety are becoming increasingly important, informed decisions will make all the difference.