传统上，欧洲的饮用水质量标准是基于世界卫生组织（WHO）的国际和欧洲标准，更横向地说是基于1984年发布的饮用水质量指南。1985年7月，欧洲共同体（EC）成员国法定标准的基础成为有关人类饮用水质量的指令。与此同时，欧共体的一些政府要求委员会审查《饮用水指令》，世卫组织正在修订其1984年的指南。这两个过程联系在一起是不可避免的。 回顾了世卫组织饮用水质量指南的修订、欧盟指令的修订，以及世卫组织和欧盟方法的比较。

Traditionally standards for drinking water quality in Europe were based on the World Health Organization (WHO) International and European Standards, and more laterally on the Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality published in 1984. In July 1985, the basis of statutory standards for members of the European Community (EC) become the Directive relating to the Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption. At the same time as some governments in the EC were asking the Commission to review the drinking water Directive, WHO was in the process of revising its 1984 Guidelines. That the two processes became linked was inevitable. A review of the revision of WHO Guidelines for drinking water quality, revision of the EC Directive, and comparison of WHO and EC approaches is given.