This page provides an overview of news about soil and water.

An animation about the monitoring programme of the Dutch minerals policy, its history and its results.

The government determines the maximum amount of chemicals and living organisms that may be present in drinking water.

RIVM uses its knowledge and expertise in microbiology and statistics to provide advice to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and other relevant parties about national implementation and national (and international) evaluation of the European Bathing Water Directive.

RIVM provides recommendations and conducts scientific research in swimming pools (bathing establishments).

Clean water contributes to a healthy life. For instance, clean water that people can swim in encourages people to be more active. RIVM has an advisory role and conducts scientific research into the quality of bathing water.

Since 1990, RIVM has been collecting data on health issues caused by contact with bathing water by conducting a periodic survey.

During the bathing season, official swimming locations are checked for bathing water quality. In the Netherlands, the bathing season runs from 1 May to 1 October. There are no inspections of bathing water quality outside the bathing season.