Residues of medicinal products, pesticides, biozides and other chemicals can adversely affect the environment and human health already in low concentrations. These micropollutants are increasingly detected in our waters not least due to improved analytics. Precautionary measures are needed to prevent future stresses on our waterbodies. Therefore, the German Environment Agency (UBA) has analysed entry pathways, named critical substance characteristics and proposed a combination of measures consisting of measures at the source, in use and for wastewater treatment serving the objective of comprehensive water protection.