DIRECTIVE 2006/118/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCILof 12 December 2006on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deteriorationTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THEEUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-nity, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,Having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic andSocial Committee (1),Having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of theRegions (2),Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251of the Treaty (3), in the light of the joint text approved by theConciliation Committee on 28 November 2006,Whereas:(1) Groundwater is a valuable natural resource and as suchshould be protected from deterioration and chemicalpollution. This is particularly important for groundwater-dependent ecosystems and for the use of groundwater inwater supply for human consumption.(2) Groundwater is the most sensitive and the larg...