Legal News

European Parliament adopts revisions to Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

Published on: 11 April 2024
Published by LNB News

LNB News 11/04/2024

Document Information

Issue Date: 11 April 2024

Published Date: 11 April 2024

Jurisdiction(s): European Union

Article summary

The European Parliament has adopted revisions to Council Directive 91/271/EEC (the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive) that aims to amend the EU’s water management and urban wastewater treatment standards to better protect public health and the environment. This vote follows the deal reached with the Council of the EU in January 2024. The revisions set out deadlines for the implementation of secondary, tertiary and additional treatments of urban wastewater over the next two decades. The law also introduces extended producer responsibility for medicinal products for human use and cosmetic products, to cover the costs of quaternary treatment (to remove micro-pollutants from urban wastewater). At least 80% of the costs will be covered by producers, complemented by national financing. EU countries will be required to promote the reuse of treated wastewater from all urban wastewater treatment plants where appropriate, especially in water-stressed areas. The European Council will now need to formally approve the agreement before it can enter into force.

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