00085/2024/LEX

SP(2024)377

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted by 481 votes to 79, with 26 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning urban wastewater treatment (recast).

The European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amends the proposal as follows:

Subject matter

This proposed Directive:

- lays down rules on the collection, treatment, and discharge of urban wastewater , to protect the environment and human health, in line with the One Health approach, while progressively reducing greenhouse gas emissions to sustainable levels, improving the energy balance of urban wastewater collection and treatment activities and contributing to the transition towards a circular economy;

- lays down rules on access to sanitation for all, on transparency of the urban wastewater sector, on the regular surveillance of public health relevant parameters in urban wastewaters and on the implementation of the polluter-pay principle.

Collecting systems

Member States should ensure that all agglomerations of 2 000 p.e. and above are provided with collecting systems. Agglomerations between 1 000 and 2 000 p.e. should comply with the requirements of paragraph 1 by 31 December 2035.

Member States with a large number of small agglomerations affected by the Directive's new urban wastewater collection and treatment requirements for agglomerations between 1 000 and 2 000 p.e. should be allowed to set longer deadlines for compliance with these new requirements in their first national implementation plan. Due to their specific situation, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia should set longer deadlines for compliance with the new requirements.

Individual systems

Where it can be demonstrated that the establishment of a centralised urban waste water collection system or connection to a collecting system would not be in the interest of the environment or human health, would not be technically feasible or would entail excessive costs, and only in such cases, Member States should be authorised to use individual systems for the collection, storage and/or treatment of urban waste water, provided that such systems achieve the same level of environmental and health protection as secondary and tertiary treatment.

Integrated urban wastewater management plans

By 31 December 2033 , Member States should ensure that an integrated urban wastewater management plan is established for drainage areas of agglomerations of 100 000 p.e. and above .

Integrated urban wastewater management plans should be reviewed at least every six years after their establishment and updated where necessary.

Secondary treatment

Member States should ensure that discharges from urban wastewater treatment plants in agglomerations of between 1 000 and 2 000 p.e. comply with the requirements for secondary treatment by 31 December 2035 at the latest. Discharges of urban waste water may be subject to less stringent treatment when they are discharged into: (i) waters located in high mountain regions (at an altitude of more than 1 500 metres); (ii) deep marine waters in the case of discharges of waste water from agglomerations with a p.e. of less than 150 000 located in sparsely populated outermost regions; (iii) water from small agglomerations of between 1 000 and 2 000 p.e. located in cold climate regions.

Tertiary treatment

Tertiary treatment (i.e. elimination of nitrogen and phosphorus) should be applied in 30 % of treatment plants of 150 000 p.e. or more by 31 December 2033 and in 70% of treatment plants by 31 December 2036. By 31 December 2039, tertiary treatment should be applied in all treatment plants of 150 000 p.e. or more. All treatment plants of 10 000 p.e. or more should be covered from 2045.

By derogation, Member States may decide that an individual urban wastewater treatment plant situated in an area included in the list of areas in their territory which are subject to eutrophication should not be subject to the requirements laid down in the Directive if it can be shown that the minimum percentage reduction in the overall load entering all urban waste water treatment plants in that area reaches:

- at least 75 % for total phosphorus and at least 75 % for total nitrogen from the date of entry into force of this Directive;

- 82.5 % for total phosphorus and 80 % for total nitrogen by 31 December 2039;

- 87.5 % for total phosphorus and 82.5 % for total nitrogen by 31 December 2045.

Quaternary treatment

Member States should ensure that discharges from urban wastewater treatment plants treating a load of 150 000 p.e. and above meet the relevant requirements for quaternary treatment of urban wastewater before discharge into receiving waters by: (a) 31 December 2033 for discharges from 20 % of these urban wastewater treatment plants; (b) 31 December 2039 for discharges from 60 % of these urban wastewater treatment plants; (c) 31 December 2045 for all discharges from these urban wastewater treatment plants.

Quaternary treatment should first focus on organic micropollutants, which represent a significant part of the pollution.

Extended producer responsibility

The directive introduces extended responsibility for producers of medicinal products for human use and cosmetic products, to cover the costs of quaternary treatment (the elimination of micropollutants from urban wastewater). They should cover at least 80% of the costs, which will be supplemented by national funding.

Member States should promote the reuse of treated wastewater from urban wastewater treatment plants, particularly in areas subject to water stress.

Lastly, Member States should take preventive measures to limit the possibility of intentionally or unintentionally discharged microplastics ending up in urban wastewater and sludge.

T9-0222/2024

GEDA/A/(2024)133000

GEDA/A/(2024)133000

Debate in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted by 420 votes to 62, with 84 abstentions, amendments to the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning urban wastewater treatment (recast).

The matter was referred back to the committee responsible for inter-institutional negotiations.

Subject matter

This Directive should:

- lay down rules on the collection, treatment, and discharge of urban wastewater, to protect the environment and health, in accordance with the One Health approach, while progressively reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the energy balance of urban wastewater collection and treatment activities while contributing to the transition towards a circular economy;

- lay down rules on access to sanitation for all, on transparency of the urban wastewater sector and on the regular surveillance of public health relevant parameters in urban wastewaters, and through integrated wastewater management planning it aims to increase synergies with climate change adaptation and urban ecosystem restoration action.

Collections systems

By 31 December 2032, Member States should ensure that all agglomerations with a population equivalent (p.e.) of between 750 and 2 000 are equipped with collection systems. In addition, Member States should take steps to ensure that the competent authorities assess the levels of waste water leakage and associated emissions on their territory and of the potential to reduce such leakage.

Member States should establish minimum requirements based on guidance provided by the Commission within 24 months of the entry into force of this Directive on the design, operation, and maintenance of individual systems across the Union and should establish the requirements for the regular inspections.

Integrated urban wastewater management plans

Integrated urban wastewater management plans, including the specification of parts completed and elements yet to be put in place, should be made available to the Commission on request within three months of their publication. The Commission should take appropriate action regarding the integrated urban wastewater management plans established by Member States, in the event that such plans do not include at least the elements set out in Annex V.

Member States should: (i) aim at increasing green space in urban areas in order to reduce storm water overflows based on natural solutions; (ii) ensure that integrated urban wastewater management plans are reviewed every five years after their establishment and updated where necessary.

Tertiary treatment

By 31 December 2038, Member States should ensure that all urban wastewater treatment plants treating a load of 100 000 p.e. and above are subject to tertiary treatment.

By way of derogation, Member States may decide that an individual urban waste water treatment plant situated in an area included in the list of areas in their territory which are subject to eutrophication should not be subject to the requirements laid down in the Directive if it can be shown that the minimum percentage reduction in the overall load entering all urban waste water treatment plants in that area reaches:

- 90% for total phosphorus and 75% for total nitrogen by 31 December 2035;

- 93% for total phosphorus and 80% for total nitrogen by 31 December 2040. Days during which the effluent temperature falls below 12 °C are not relevant for the calculation of nitrogen removal.

Quaternary treatment

All urban wastewater treatment plants of 150 000 p.e. and above should provide quaternary treatment, as those facilities represent a significant share of micro-pollutant discharges in the environment. For agglomerations of between 35 000 p.e. and 150 000 p.e., Member States should be required to apply quaternary treatment to areas identified as sensitive to pollution with micro-pollutants based on clear criteria.

Extended producer responsibility

Members considered that extended producer responsibility should be complemented by national financing set up for the upgrade of urban wastewater treatment plants in order to ensure there are no unintended consequences for the availability, affordability and accessibility of vital products, in particular medicines, and to ensure sufficient funds are available to operators. The national funding should not amount to more than 20% and should not undermine the polluter pays principle.

The Commission should assess the possible need to extend the scope of Extended Producer Responsibility, in particular to products containing microplastics and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) placed on the market and taking into account any restrictions on PFAS.

Energy neutrality of urban wastewater treatment plants

Energy audits of urban wastewater treatment plants and collection systems should include identification of the potential for cost-effective use, reduction of energy consumption, recovery and use of waste heat either onsite or via a district system or production of renewable energy.

Member States should ensure that the total annual energy from renewable sources, generated at national level on- or off-site by urban wastewater treatment plants treating a load of 10 000 p.e. and above and independently if it is used on- or off-site the urban wastewater treatment plant by their owners or operators, is equivalent to at least: (i) 50 % of the total annual energy used by such plants by 31 December 2033; (ii) 75 % of the total annual energy used by such plants by 31 December 2036.

Water reuse and discharges of urban wastewater

Member States should systematically promote the reuse of treated wastewater from all urban wastewater treatment plants, especially in water-stressed areas and for industrial purposes, if there is no adverse effect for the environment and health risk management measures have been implemented. Where treated wastewater is reused for agricultural irrigation, it should comply with certain requirements.

Microplastics

Micro- and nanoplastic pollution is often caused by dyeing and washing processes of synthetic textiles as synthetic microfibres are released into wastewater. The Commission should submit a legislative proposal , accompanied by an impact assessment, in line with its initiative on ‘Microplastics pollution – measures to reduce its impact on the environment’ to oblige the fitting of microfibre filters for new washing machines at EU level by 31 December 2027.

T9-0355/2023

A9-0276/2023

A9-0276/2023

PE752.960

PE752.769

CDR6179/2022

COM(2022)0541

PE748.982

PE746.950

PE747.010

PE748.961

PE748.962

PE748.963

PE746.722

COM(2022)0541

PE745.327

COM(2022)0541

COM(2022)0541

COM(2022)0541

CES5433/2022

COM(2022)0541

EUR-Lex
SEC(2022)0541

EUR-Lex
SWD(2022)0541

EUR-Lex
SWD(2022)0544

PURPOSE: to revise the rules on treating urban wastewater to better protect the health of Europeans and the environment.

PROPOSED ACT: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) was adopted in 1991. Its objective being to protect the environment from adverse effects of wastewater discharges from urban sources and specific industries. Member States are required to ensure that wastewater from all agglomerations above 2 000 inhabitants is collected and treated according to EU minimum standards. Since its adoption the quality of European rivers, lakes and seas has greatly improved. There is a high level of compliance with the Directive across the EU, with 98% of wastewater collected and 92% satisfactorily treated.

However, pollution remains and needs to be addressed to achieve a pollution-free environment by 2050. This includes pollution from smaller cities outside the scope of the Directive and pollution caused by storm water overflows . At present, micropollutants such as residues from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics are also not covered. These residues are frequently found in all our water bodies and have a detrimental effect on nature.

Moreover, recent experience has shown that viruses can be tracked with high reliability in wastewaters: this provides precious information for public health decisions. To be able to collect the necessary data has likewise required an update of the Directive.

PURPOSE: therefore, this Commission proposal aims to revise the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive to help Europeans benefit from cleaner rivers, lakes, groundwaters and seas, while making wastewater treatment more cost-effective. To make the best possible use of wastewater as a resource, it is proposed to aim for energy-neutrality of the sector by 2040 and improve the quality of sludge to allow for more reuse contributing thus to a more circular economy.

Subject matter

The proposed Directive lays down rules on the collection, treatment, and discharge of urban wastewater to protect the environment and human health while progressively eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and improving the energy balance of urban wastewater collection and treatment activities. It also lays down rules on access to sanitation, on transparency of the urban wastewater sector and on the regular surveillance of public health relevant parameters in urban wastewaters.

Scope

To further reduce pollution, the new rules enlarge the scope of the current Directive (which applies to cities with over 2 000 inhabitants) to cover all cities with more than 1 000 inhabitants . The new rules will also cover rainwater and will require EU countries to establish integrated urban wastewater management plans in large cities (over 100 000 inhabitants initially, as well as later for cities from 10 000 inhabitants, where needed). This will reduce direct emissions of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus to water bodies, but also litter and microplastics captured by urban runoff. It also introduces better control of individual systems such as septic tanks, stricter standards for nutrients, and standards for micropollutants. It also requires the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions and microplastics.

Objectives

The revision aims to:

- make the wastewater sector energy-neutral and move it towards climate neutrality by reducing energy use, using the larger surfaces of some wastewater treatments plants to produce solar/wind energy, encouraging water reuse and using sludge to produce biogas, which can substitute natural gas;

- make industry responsible for treating toxic micropollutants (‘ polluter pays’ principle) that are released into the environment from the use of their products, especially harmful residues from the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sector;

- improve access to sanitation in public spaces and for the 2 million most vulnerable and marginalised people in the EU;

- require the monitoring of health parameters in wastewater in order to enhance the EU's preparedness against pandemics or other major public health threats, as is currently being done for COVID-19.

These measures will be progressively applied until 2040.

COM(2022)0541
EUR-Lex