Council confirms new wastewater directive

On November 5, the European Council formally adopted the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD). This decision aligns with the proposals of the European Commission and the European Parliament. The directive will soon be published in the Official Journal of the EU and will enter into force 20 days after publication. EU Member States will then have up to 31 months to incorporate the new rules into their national legislation.

Under the revised directive, secondary treatment of urban wastewater before discharge will become mandatory for all agglomerations with a population equivalent (p.e.) of 1,000 or more by 2035. Derogations are available for Member States with limited coverage of collecting systems requiring substantial investments. Additionally, newer EU Member States, such as Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia, which have already made significant investments to comply with the current directive, may also benefit from these exemptions.