![Urban wastewater treatment: Updating EU rules [EU Legislation in Progress][Policy podcast]](https://i0.wp.com/epthinktank.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/EPRS-Briefing-739370-Urban-wastewater-treatment-directive-FINAL.png?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1)
Written by Vivienne Halleux (3rd edition, updated on 09.04.2024).
In October 2022, under the European Green Deal, the European Commission tabled a proposal for a recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Dating back to 1991, and instrumental to the achievement of European Union water policy objectives, the directive needs to be updated and adapted to new challenges and realities.
The recast proposal would introduce new obligations to do more to control pollution due to rainwater, impose stricter standards for nutrient removal and require advanced treatment for the removal of micro-pollutants. To cover treatment costs, a system of extended producer responsibility (EPR) targeting pharmaceuticals and cosmetics would be set up. To align the directive with the Green Deal’s ambitions, an energy neutrality obligation would be introduced for wastewater treatment plants. Water reuse and sludge management requirements would be clarified to enhance circularity. Health parameters would be monitored in wastewater to support public health action.
The European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on 29 January 2024. The text was endorsed by Member State representatives on 1 March and by Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety on 11 March 2024. It now awaits formal adoption by the co-legislators. The plenary vote is scheduled for the April I 2024 session.
Complete version
- April 2024: Urban wastewater treatment: Updating EU rule (3rd edition)
| Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning urban wastewater treatment (recast) |
| Committee responsible: | Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) | COM(2022) 541 final 26.10.2022 |
| Rapporteur: | Nils Torvalds (Renew, Finland) | 2022/0345(COD) |
| Shadow rapporteurs: | Deirdre Clune (EPP, Ireland) Marek Paweł Balt (S&D, Poland) Margrete Auken (Greens/EFA, Denmark) Pietro Fiocchi (ECR, Italy) Danilo Oscar Lancini (ID, Italy) Nikolaj Villumsen (The Left, Denmark) | Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) |
| Next steps expected: Plenary vote on trilogue agreement |
Listen to policy podcast ‘Updating the EU rules on urban wastewater treatment’ on YouTube.
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