Influence and migration testing in drinking water

Compliance with Royal Decree 3/2023 for Materials and Products in Contact with Drinking Water

Royal Decree 3/2023, in force since January 2023, establishes the sanitary criteria required to ensure the quality and safety of drinking water, aligning with the latest European requirements. Among other provisions, Article 44 defines the basic hygienic requirements that materials, products and substances in contact with drinking water must meet. 

Specifically, Article 44 of the RD requires the following basic hygienic requirements to be met:   

• Not endangering, directly or indirectly, the protection of human health.;  
• Not a affecting the colour, odour or taste of the water.  
• Not supporting microbial growth.  
• Not migrating contaminants into the drinking water at levels higher than. necessary for the intended purpose of the material or to worsen the quality of the water. Parametric values in Annex I of the RD should be avoided in all cases.  

In this way, Royal Decree 3/2023 currently constitutes the main regulatory framework for assessing the compliance of materials in contact with water intended for human consumption in Spain.

SPECIFIC REGULATIONS   

These are the specific standards that regulate the influence of construction materials and products on water for human consumption:   

• EN 12873-2:2022. Influence of materials on water intended for human consumption. Test method for non-metallic and non-cementitious materials applied in situ.  
• EN 14944-4:2026. Influence of cementitious products on water intended for human consumption. Test method for the migration of substances from cement-based products applied in situ and from associated non-cementitious products/materials.

TESTS OF INFLUENCE ON DRINKING WATER  

In our laboratories we test some of the following materials under RD 03/2023 specifications:  

• Cements
• Paint 
• Mortars and coatings  
• Sealants  
• Waterproof materials 

Our technicians carry out chemical tests to analyse and determine whether the water is capable of absorbing building elements when they are in contact.   

 Building material manufacturers for water operations must submit their products to these tests on a mandatory basis and comply with current regulations to ensure the proper health conditions of water fit for human consumption. 

These tests are complementary to the characterisation tests that are conducted each product, for example, those that pertain mechanical, physical and dimensional properties and general performance.