Press release - New EU rules to improve urban wastewater treatment and reuse
- Better monitoring of chemical pollutants, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance
- - Better monitoring of chemical pollutants, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance
- Producers of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics and member states will have to finance costs of additional treatment for micro-pollutants
- Wider reuse of treated urban wastewater to prevent water scarcity
On Wednesday, MEPs approved new EU rules for the collection, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater. - the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus) will be applied in all wastewater treatment plants covering 150,000 p.e.
- An additional treatment removing a broad spectrum of micro-pollutants ('quaternary treatment') will be mandatory for all plants over 150,000 p.e.
- 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.