Publication Category: Policy Recommendation & Position papers
Position paper on Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for pharmaceuticals
EurEau supports the setting of Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for pharmaceuticals provided several pre-conditions are met to avoid that the water sector will be the first and/or only stakeholder to take the burden for ensuring compliance.
Position paper enabling the circular potential of sewage sludge
Enabling the circular economy for waste water services requires the alignment of a set of directives regulating the sector. The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD), the Industrial Emission Directive (IED), the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) and the Sewage Sludge Directive (SSD) are key to the collection and treatment of urban waste water and subsequent […]
Position paper on the consideration of small agglomerations in the UWWTD
Small agglomerations have been identified as a source of pollution in the evaluation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). Despite that small agglomerations need to be better defined in the UWWTD, this source of pollution needs to be robustly addressed for the protection of biodiversity, ecosystems and for the protection of drinking water […]
Position paper on the Weser Ruling and its effects on UWWTP
This paper explains the technical and practical implications for Urban Waste Water Treatment Plants (UWWTP) regarding the legal problems triggered by the Weser Ruling. It suggests possible solutions to look forward.
Taxonomy Delegated Regulation on climate objectives
Statement on the Climate Action Technical Screening Criteria
Position paper on climate mitigation in the UWWTD
The European waste water sector can make a big contribution to reaching climate neutrality objective by reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions and energy consumption. The revision of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive can create momentum to build a legal framework to address climate mitigation and the impact of waste water treatment plants. This paper presents […]
EurEau response to NIS (Security of Network and Information Systems) review
The current directive is just being implemented, and so there is little or no experience as to how it functions in practice. Instead of revising, should the Commission focus on its effective implementation. If the European legislators decide to proceed with the revision, they should focus on the further development of a coherent and streamlined regulatory […]
Position paper on the Precautionary and Innovation Principles
In the framework of new Commission policy work to protect public health and the environment, certain sectors, and in particular the chemical industry, are promoting a new ‘Innovation Principle’ next to the Precautionary Principle.
Position Paper on Best Available Techniques Reference Documents (BREFs)
EurEau strongly supports innovation in our sector. However, we do not agree that the approach of BREFs as defined under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) suits the context of the UWWTD. Innovation and affordability of water services are best supported by an UWWTD which establishes output requirements with clear indications of enhanced performance requirements to […]
EurEau expectations in UWWTD revision process: public statement
European waste water service providers see the revision of the 1991 Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) as an opportunity to develop an ambitious, innovative, supportive and straight-forward new policy framework enabling operators to meet the Green Deal goals and make waste water collection, treatment and management fit for the decades to come. New objectives […]