At the start of 2024, a significant amendment to Decree No. 252/2004 Coll. came into force, governing hygiene requirements for drinking and hot water in the Czech Republic. The changes are the result of transposing EU Directive 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption and introduce new obligations for both water supply operators and accredited laboratories that analyse water quality.
What Changed and Why?
Decree No. 371/2023 Coll., amending Decree No. 252/2004 Coll., came into effect on 4 January 2024. Its primary goal is to align Czech legislation with the latest EU requirements and respond to newly identified health risks associated with emerging contaminants in drinking water.
The key changes can be grouped into several areas:
1. New Monitored Parameters – PFAS, BPA, and Haloacetic Acids
The most significant development is the introduction of three entirely new groups of parameters that were previously not part of mandatory monitoring:
- PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) – so-called “forever chemicals”, highly persistent compounds with demonstrated adverse health effects. The Czech Republic has set a limit for the sum of 20 selected PFAS at 100 ng/l, with an additional indicative parameter for the “sum of 4 PFAS” at 10 ng/l.
- Bisphenol A (BPA) – an endocrine disruptor used in plastic manufacturing, now newly monitored in drinking water.
- Haloacetic acids (HAA) – by-products of chlorine-based water disinfection with potential carcinogenic effects.
While mandatory PFAS limits in drinking water take full effect from January 2026, water supply operators were required to begin monitoring in 2024 to establish a baseline understanding of these substances’ presence.
2. Tightened Lead Limit
The amendment confirms a gradual reduction in the permissible concentration of lead in drinking water. Until 12 January 2036, a transitional limit of 10 μg/l applies, after which the limit will be tightened further in line with European requirements. This change is particularly relevant in older buildings with lead pipework.
3. Mandatory Publication of Customer Complaints
From 2025, larger water supply operators serving more than 50,000 inhabitants or supplying over 10,000 m³ of water per day are required to annually publish statistics on customer complaints regarding water quality. This obligation stems directly from EU Directive 2020/2184 and strengthens transparency towards consumers.
4. Adjustments to the Scope of Analyses
The amendment also revises the scope of the so-called abbreviated analysis — Clostridium perfringens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been removed from its mandatory content, where they were previously required for water treated from surface sources.
What Does This Mean for Laboratories?
For accredited laboratories analysing drinking water quality, the amendment brings significant methodological challenges. Determining PFAS, BPA, and haloacetic acids requires specialised analytical methods and equipment. In a statement from February 2024, the Ministry of Health acknowledged the financial demands of these analyses and, for 2024 and 2025, allows the relevant tests to be carried out at a reduced frequency.
Increased emphasis is also placed on the “limit of quantification” and “measurement uncertainty” — with the clear principle that measurement uncertainty must not be used as an additional tolerance when assessing whether a measured value complies with a hygiene limit.
Current State of Drinking Water Quality in the Czech Republic
According to the National Institute of Public Health’s report on drinking water quality for 2024, over 39,000 samples were taken from more than 4,100 supply zones across public water systems. In total, more than 1.4 million drinking water quality values were analysed. The quality of water in Czech public water systems is generally high — water meets the physical, chemical, microbiological, and biological parameters of both Czech and European legislation.
That said, localised exceptions persist — most commonly for pesticide metabolites (alachlor ESA, acetochlor ESA) and for manganese and iron parameters, particularly in smaller supply zones.
Summary: Key Changes at a Glance
| Area | Change / Update |
|---|---|
| PFAS | New parameter; mandatory limits from January 2026 |
| Bisphenol A | New parameter from January 2024 |
| Haloacetic acids | New parameter from January 2024 |
| Lead | Transitional limit of 10 μg/l until 2036 |
| Customer complaints | Mandatory annual publication from 2025 |
How Can Litolab Help You?
Our accredited laboratory is fully equipped to carry out drinking water analyses in compliance with the current version of Decree No. 252/2004 Coll. as amended by Decree No. 371/2023 Coll. We perform both abbreviated and full drinking water analyses, including determination of the new parameters — PFAS, bisphenol A, and haloacetic acids.
We deliver accurate results, expert interpretation, and full support in meeting your legal obligations. Don’t hesitate to get in touch — we’ll be happy to prepare a tailored offer for you.
Sources: Decree No. 371/2023 Coll.; Decree No. 252/2004 Coll.; National Institute of Public Health – Drinking Water Quality Report 2024; EU Directive 2020/2184