European Commission public consultation to update rules on urban wastewater

The European Commission has launched an online public consultation to seek all citizens and the wider community of stakeholders views on the update of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD).

The UWWTD was adopted 30 years ago to protect the environment from the harmful effects of the discharges of untreated waste water. Untreated wastewater can put human health and the environment at risk and pollute lakes, rivers, soil and coastal and groundwater. Under the UWWTD, European countries are required to ensure that urban wastewater is collected and treated appropriately. This revision aims to address the shortcomings identified in the 2019 evaluation report to contribute to the aims of the European Green Deal Search for available translations of the preceding, including the ambitions set out in the Circular Economy Action Plan; and to the upcoming Zero Pollution Action Plan.

In this public consultation, stakeholders and civil society are invited to share their views on the various policy measures developed by the European Commission over the past year, based on feedback and cooperation with Member States and stakeholders. Sanitation synthesis by countries and details on individual wastewater treatment plans can be consulted online at https://uwwtd.eu

More information on the UWWTD review process are available on the European Commission website here