On 11 July, the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) celebrates its 75th anniversary. Since 1950, countries along the Rhine have been working together across borders to improve and safeguard the water quality, ecology and safety of the river. RIWA-Rijn warmly congratulates the ICPR on this milestone.
The founding of the ICPR was a crucial step towards protecting the Rhine as a vital artery of Europe. The cooperation between Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands has led to robust agreements on water quality, pollution control and ecological restoration. Much progress has been made since then: the water quality has improved significantly and iconic species such as the salmon have returned to the river.
Close ties between ICPR and RIWA-Rijn
For RIWA-Rijn, this anniversary also marks a moment of reflection. One year after the ICPR was founded—in 1951—four Dutch drinking water companies came together to discuss the growing pollution of the Rhine. That meeting laid the foundation for the establishment of RIWA-Rijn. Thanks to the ICPR, a structured international forum emerged in which the concerns of the drinking water sector could be heard.
Today, RIWA-Rijn continues to actively contribute to the work of the ICPR, including in working groups focused on water quality, emerging substances and monitoring. Under the motto “what doesn’t go in, doesn’t have to be taken out,” RIWA-Rijn identifies and addresses risks in the Rhine basin and advocates for sustainable protection of the drinking water source.
Challenges: lithium and other emerging substances
The ICPR’s 75th anniversary comes at a time when new challenges are emerging. Industrial discharges are causing increasingly complex pollution of the Rhine. Last year, the Rhine Commission already addressed the issue of PFAS. This year, RIWA-Rijn expresses concern about lithium mining and processing in the Rhine basin. Lithium is essential for the energy transition but also poses risks to water quality. RIWA-Rijn therefore calls for the joint development of an environmental quality standard for lithium, to ensure that future generations can continue to rely on clean and safe drinking water from the Rhine.
A shared responsibility
The history of the ICPR shows that international cooperation works—and that continued effort is essential. RIWA-Rijn remains committed to contributing knowledge, data and concerns to ensure that the Rhine remains a reliable source of drinking water for the future.
