On 5 November, the Council gave the final green light to the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. While some requirements remain challenging for water operators, the deal strikes overall a fine balance between environmental protection and technical feasibility, while introducing innovative provisions for a more equitable distribution of the costs of treating pollution.

Aqua Publica Europea particularly welcomes the flexibility provisions on energy neutrality related to the production of off-site renewable energy and the purchase of non-fossil energy from external sources as well as the introduction of an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, which will make producers of human pharmaceuticals and cosmetic products cover at least 80% of the costs of quaternary treatment necessary to remove micropollutants.

Now comes the time of implementation. On the first day after the adoption of the Directive, public water operators convened within Aqua Publica Europea’s internal Working Group on the Urban Wastewater Treatment and Sewage Sludge Directives to discuss immediate next steps. Experts delved into key aspects of the Directive and upcoming delegated and implementing acts. They also touched upon the circularity economy potential of key resources that can be recovered from wastewater and sludge.

Photo credit: Economic and Financial Affairs Council - November 2024