The proposed update to the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive would introduce new obligations to better 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 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.

EPRS Policy podcast - Updating the EU rules on urban wastewater treatment

The Drinking Water Directive sets quality standards for drinking water and requires that Member States ensure monitoring and compliance with these standards.

The plans aim to increase citizens’ confidence in the water supply and increase the use of tap water for drinking, which could contribute to reducing plastic usage and litter.

If confidence in tap water improves, citizens can also contribute to reducing plastic waste from bottled water, including marine litter. Plastic bottles are one of the most common single use plastic items found on European beaches. With the update of the Drinking Water Directive, the Commission takes an important legislative step towards implementing the EU Plastics Strategy presented on 16 January 2018.

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/water-quality-8th-parliamentary-term_9403_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Water quality

The drinking water directive achieved the update of a list of parameters to monitor drinking water, in line with technical and scientific progress. The vote on this report, adopted on 28 March 2019, closes Parliament’s first reading, which reached its position in October 2018.
Two other aspects include the importance of transparency for citizens and consumers as regards water quality, and the improvement of accessibility to drinking water for everyone.

#EUelections2019 - Drinking water quality

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Water legislation

ENVI - Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety - Water directive

Outside view of the COP25 in Madrid on December 14, 2019.

Plenary session - Quality of water intended for human consumption

Plenary session - Minimum requirements for water reuse

EP Press conference. The drinking water directive

This news item shows extracts from the MEPs debate on updated rules on the collection, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater to better protect the environment and human health and extracts from the vote on Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive as well. MEPs want chemical pollutants (including “forever chemicals”), microplastics, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance to be monitored more. They also agree that a system of extended producer responsibility (EPR) should be set up for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, which require additional treatment for micro-pollutants. Nils TORVALDS, Rapporteur, gives a statement on the directive and the next steps with the Council.

Urban wastewater treatment: extracts from the debate; extracts from the vote; and statement by Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur

MEPs vote on several texts: opening of negotiations on the Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders - Guillaume, Human rights situation in Afghanistan, in particular the persecution of former government officials - Motion for resolution, the case of Zarema Musaeva in Chechnya - Motion for resolution, Egypt, in particular the sentencing of Hisham Kassem - Motion for resolution, European green bonds - Tang, Scheme of generalised tariff preferences - Hautala, Financial services contracts concluded at a distance - Kokalari, Urban wastewater treatment. Recast - Torvalds, Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack - Motion for resolution, Taking stock of Moldova’s path to the EU - Motion for resolution, The new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) - Motion for resolution.

Voting session: Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders, the new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+), taking stock of Moldova’s path to the EU

MEPs debate on updated rules on the collection, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater to better protect the environment and human health.The Environment Committee adopted its position in September. The report calls for treated wastewater from urban wastewater treatment plants to be reused more widely to prevent water scarcity. MEPs want chemical pollutants (including “forever chemicals”), microplastics, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance to be monitored more. They also agree that a system of extended producer responsibility (EPR) should be set up for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, which require additional treatment for micro-pollutants. Closing statements by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography and by Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur.

Urban wastewater treatment: closing statements by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography and by Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur

MEPs debate on updated rules on the collection, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater to better protect the environment and human health.The Environment Committee adopted its position in September. The report calls for treated wastewater from urban wastewater treatment plants to be reused more widely to prevent water scarcity. MEPs want chemical pollutants (including “forever chemicals”), microplastics, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance to be monitored more. They also agree that a system of extended producer responsibility (EPR) should be set up for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, which require additional treatment for micro-pollutants. Second part of the debate.

Urban wastewater treatment: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on updated rules on the collection, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater to better protect the environment and human health.The Environment Committee adopted its position in September. The report calls for treated wastewater from urban wastewater treatment plants to be reused more widely to prevent water scarcity. MEPs want chemical pollutants (including “forever chemicals”), microplastics, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance to be monitored more. They also agree that a system of extended producer responsibility (EPR) should be set up for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, which require additional treatment for micro-pollutants. First part of the debate.

Urban wastewater treatment: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate on updated rules on the collection, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater to better protect the environment and human health.The Environment Committee adopted its position in September. The report calls for treated wastewater from urban wastewater treatment plants to be reused more widely to prevent water scarcity. MEPs want chemical pollutants (including “forever chemicals”), microplastics, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance to be monitored more. They also agree that a system of extended producer responsibility (EPR) should be set up for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, which require additional treatment for micro-pollutants. Opening statements by Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please cehck agaisnt delivery.

Urban wastewater treatment: opening statements by Nils TORVALDS (Renew, FI), Rapporteur and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography

MEPs debate and call for increased action to preserve and improve EU water resources, already affected by several years of dry conditions and diminishing groundwater levels. The impact of the emerging drought is already visible in France, Spain, and northern Italy and raise concerns about water supply for human use, agriculture, and energy production. For several decades, the EU has developed a framwork for preventing and mitigating water scarcity and nox, the Parliament and the Member States are currently working on a revision of several EU water policy measures, following a proposal on integrated water management of surface and groundwater pollutants. Closing statement by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy.

The water crisis in Europe: closing statement by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

MEPs debate and call for increased action to preserve and improve EU water resources, already affected by several years of dry conditions and diminishing groundwater levels. The impact of the emerging drought is already visible in France, Spain, and northern Italy and raise concerns about water supply for human use, agriculture, and energy production. For several decades, the EU has developed a framwork for preventing and mitigating water scarcity and nox, the Parliament and the Member States are currently working on a revision of several EU water policy measures, following a proposal on integrated water management of surface and groundwater pollutants. Third part of the debate.

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