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REPORT (COM(2022)0541 – C96363/2022 – 2022/0345(COD))

On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning urban wastewater treatment (recast)

A-9-2023-0276

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Nils Torvalds

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the Commission proposal for a recast directive on urban wastewater treatment sets rules on collection, treatment and discharge, access to sanitation, transparency and public health surveillance. It lowers the threshold for covered agglomerations to 750 population equivalent and requires secondary, tertiary and quaternary treatment by set dates. It introduces extended producer responsibility for producers of products listed in Annex III, complemented by national financing, to cover quaternary treatment costs. It requires energy neutrality targets, monitoring of greenhouse gases, micro-pollutants and micro-plastics, and integrated urban wastewater management plans. It strengthens rules on access to sanitation, sludge management, water reuse, public information and compensation for damage.

Committee position. The committee proposes to amend the Commission proposal by lowering population equivalent thresholds, adding quaternary treatment and extended producer responsibility rules, and strengthening monitoring, energy neutrality and access to sanitation.

Key points

  1. The directive applies to collection, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater, access to sanitation, transparency and public health surveillance.
  2. Agglomerations of 750 p.e. and above must be covered, with secondary treatment by 31 December 2032 for those between 750 and 2 000 p.e.
  3. Tertiary treatment is required for plants of 100 000 p.e. and above by 2033 and 2038, and for agglomerations of 10 000 p.e. and above discharging into eutrophic areas by 2038 and 2043.
  4. Quaternary treatment is required for plants of 150 000 p.e. and above by five and ten years after entry into force, and for smaller agglomerations discharging into listed areas.
  5. Producers placing products listed in Annex III on the market must have extended producer responsibility, complemented by national financing not exceeding 20%.
  6. Member States must ensure energy neutrality targets for wastewater treatment plants of 10 000 p.e. and above, with interim targets of 50% by 2033 and 75% by 2036.
  7. Member States must monitor micro-pollutants, micro-plastics, PFAS, antimicrobial resistance and greenhouse gas emissions, and set up national data sets.
  8. Integrated urban wastewater management plans must include stress test assessments and prioritise green and blue infrastructure.
  9. Member States must ensure access to sanitation for all, in particular vulnerable and marginalised groups, by 31 December 2030.
  10. Sludge management must follow the waste hierarchy, with national quality standards and recovery of phosphorus and nitrogen.
  11. Member States must promote water reuse, especially in water-stressed areas and for industrial purposes, with conditions for agricultural irrigation.
  12. The public must receive information on wastewater collection and treatment, and individuals affected by violations have the right to claim compensation.

Who is affected

  • Member States, which must implement collection, treatment, monitoring and reporting obligations.
  • Producers of products listed in Annex III, who must join extended producer responsibility schemes and cover treatment costs.
  • Urban wastewater treatment plant operators, who must meet treatment and energy targets and provide information.
  • Vulnerable and marginalised groups, for whom access to sanitation must be ensured.
  • The Commission, which must adopt delegated acts, guidelines and reports.

Figures and deadlines

  • 750 population equivalent, threshold for agglomerations covered by the directive.
  • 31 December 2032, deadline for secondary treatment for agglomerations between 750 and 2 000 p.e.
  • 31 December 2033 and 31 December 2038, deadlines for tertiary treatment for plants of 100 000 p.e. and above.
  • 31 December 2038 and 31 December 2043, deadlines for tertiary treatment for agglomerations of 10 000 p.e. and above discharging into eutrophic areas.
  • Five and ten years after entry into force, deadlines for quaternary treatment for plants of 150 000 p.e. and above.
  • 50% by 31 December 2033 and 75% by 31 December 2036, energy neutrality interim targets.
  • 2 tonnes per year, threshold below which producers are exempt from extended producer responsibility.
  • 20%, maximum share of national financing for extended producer responsibility.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.