The Netherlands outside the top 20 for safe drinking water: what does that mean for your tap?

Recent news revealed that, according to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), the Netherlands is not among the top 20 countries with the safest drinking water, but instead ranks 23rd with a score of 91.3. At the top are countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, and Switzerland, all with a maximum score of 100.(World Population Review)

That feels strange, especially in a country where "tap water here is top" is almost a national slogan. In this blog, we explain what this ranking does and does not say, and how you can take control of your drinking water quality at home, with a direct link to solutions from PureAqua.

What exactly does this ranking measure?

The EPI does not simply look at "how clean the water is," but at health damage caused by unsafe drinking water. It considers, among other things, the number of healthy life years lost per 100,000 inhabitants (DALYs) that can be traced back to drinking water.(World Population Review)

Important to know:

• A country with a score of 100 has practically no measurable health damage from drinking water.

• The Netherlands scores high (91.3), but clearly lower than the absolute leaders.

• Many European countries score in the highest category, while countries in large parts of Africa in particular score low.(World Population Review)

The conclusion: Dutch tap water is fundamentally safe according to standards, but "safe" is not the same as "free of unwanted substances" or "as pure as possible."

Safe is not the same as pure

Water companies in the Netherlands supply water that meets strict legal standards. At the same time, we see more and more reports in research and the news about:

• traces of medication residues

• pesticides from agriculture

• PFAS and other "forever chemicals"

• microplastics and nanoplastics

• outdated pipes with a risk of lead in older homes

On our own page Why filter water? we also explain that clean is not always the same as pure. Something may be legally "safe" in low concentrations, while you might prefer not to see it in your glass at all.

Furthermore: climate change, drought, and increasing pressure on surface water only make the challenge of further purifying water even greater.

The pressure on our drinking water sources is increasing

A few contributing factors:

• Climate and drought
  Lower river levels and longer dry periods lead to higher concentrations of pollution in the water that is ultimately pumped up and purified.

• Intensive agriculture and industry
  Pesticides, fertilizers, and industrial discharges can end up in groundwater and surface water. Even in very low concentrations, some substances remain difficult to remove completely.

• PFAS and microplastics
  PFAS barely break down and accumulate in the environment and the body. Microplastics and nanoplastics are now being found in water worldwide.

• Outdated infrastructure
  In older houses, lead pipes or old fittings may still be present, with potential additional risks in the indoor part of the installation.

The message: the water that comes out of the tap is generally safe according to the standard, but that does not mean it is as pure as is technically possible.

What can you do at home yourself?

You have no influence on rivers, rain, or deep groundwater layers, but you do have influence over what ultimately ends up in your glass from your tap.

More and more households are therefore choosing their own drinking water filtration system under the sink, such as The Source 50. That system converts tap water into spring-quality water via reverse osmosis, straight from your own pure water tap.

A good home system helps with, among other things, the removal of:

• PFAS and other persistent chemicals

• medication residues

• pesticides and herbicides

• heavy metals such as lead

• bacteria and viruses

• microplastics and nanoplastics

On the Drinking water filtration systems page, you can read about how our systems are constructed and for which situations they are suitable.

How PureAqua's The Source works

The The Source 50 water filtration system has been specially developed as a compact, electricity-free solution for under the kitchen counter. The system works in several steps:

1. Pre-filter
   Removes larger particles such as sand and rust, and reduces chlorine and certain organic substances that affect taste and odor.

2. Reverse osmosis (RO membrane)
   This is the heart of the system. At a molecular level, up to 99 percent of unwanted substances are blocked, including heavy metals, PFAS, pesticides, bacteria, viruses, and medication residues.

3. Post-filter (carbon)
   Provides the "finishing touch" by removing any residual tastes and odors. The result is soft, fresh water with a natural taste.

4. Optional mineral filter
   After reverse osmosis, water is almost completely "empty." The optional mineral filter adds back healthy minerals such as calcium and magnesium, so that the water is not only extremely clean but also tastes full and natural.

For maintenance, there is the The Source 50+ filter set, a complete set with Pre, RO, and Post-filter, so that your system continues to perform optimally year after year.

Pure water from one stylish tap

A filtration system works best in combination with a specially designed tap. At PureAqua, you can choose from:

• a separate 1-way tap for purified water

• a 3-way tap where hot, cold, and filtered water come together in one designer tap

On the Pure water taps page, you will find models like The Flow, The Stream, and The Essence, all compatible with The Source.

This allows you to combine maximum purification with a sleek kitchen design without the need for loose pitchers or extra appliances on the counter.

From "it's probably fine" to "I choose what I drink"

The EPI ranking shows, above all, that we in the Netherlands cannot afford to sit back. Our drinking water is safe according to the standard, but we are no longer in the absolute world top.(World Population Review)

With your own water filtration system:

• you reduce the amount of unwanted substances in your glass

• you are less dependent on what happens at the source and in the pipes

• you consciously choose spring-quality water, every day, from one tap

Do you want to know what the best solution is for your situation?

• Read more about why filter water

• View our complete water filtration system The Source 50

• Or discover all pure water taps that match your kitchen

Prefer personal advice or a no-obligation quote? You can easily request a quote or contact a PureAqua specialist via the site.