This is a comprehensive new EU Directive on urban wastewater treatment that replaces the previous Directive 91/271/EEC. The main purpose is to protect the environment and human health from adverse effects of urban wastewater discharges while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency in the sector.The Directive establishes a complex regulatory framework covering:
- Requirements for collection and treatment of urban wastewater in agglomerations above 1,000 population equivalent (p.e.)
- Introduction of quaternary treatment to remove micropollutants from wastewater
- Extended producer responsibility for pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies
- Energy neutrality requirements for treatment plants
- Monitoring and reporting obligations
Key new provisions compared to the previous directive include:
- Expanded scope to include smaller agglomerations (1,000-2,000 p.e.)
- Stricter requirements for nitrogen and phosphorus removal
- New quaternary treatment requirements for micropollutants
- Requirements for energy neutrality of treatment plants
- Extended producer responsibility scheme for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
- Enhanced monitoring and reporting obligations
- Requirements for integrated urban wastewater management plans
- Provisions on access to sanitation
The most important provisions that operators need to comply with are:
- Collection system requirements for agglomerations >1,000 p.e.
- Secondary treatment requirements for all discharges from agglomerations >1,000 p.e.
- Tertiary treatment requirements for plants >150,000 p.e. and sensitive areas
- Quaternary treatment requirements for large plants and sensitive areas
- Energy neutrality targets to be achieved progressively by 2045
- Enhanced monitoring and reporting of various parameters
- Development of integrated management plans for larger agglomerations
