Our Publications
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 treatment and re-use of urban waste water treatment sludge (UWWTS).
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 resources.
EurEau would like to see more guidance on monitoring and control of small or even individual systems at EU level through a thorough assessment and planning for the registration and monitoring of individual sanitation systems included in River Basin Management Plans. These elements should also be easily accessible to the local drinking water operators so that they can include them in the risk assessment and risk management of the catchment area as required in the recently recast Drinking Water Directive.
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 how a tailor-made approach could generate the most optimal results.
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 framework for the security of network and information systems, without imposing additional and excessive burdens on industry.
At the same time, any duplication of legislation and inconsistencies with existing sector-specific and digital EU law should be avoided. The revision of the Directive should lead to a further strengthening of the preventive approach. This includes all aspects of detection and recovery by providing more and more detailed information on risks and incidents in the Member States, from national competent authorities to operators of essential services.
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 achieve specific protection of the environment and public health, rather than prescribed instruments.
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 to be delivered must consider the affordability of water services. This includes the long life-cycle of waste water collection and treatment assets and their inherent inflexibility for adaptation or upgrading.
The aim of this paper is to set our general expectations and point at areas to be covered by the impact assessment. Detailed positions or notes on specific topics will be delivered in due course.
Zero Pollution Action Plan – EurEau recommendations
Addressing the pollution of water resources in the context of the European Green Deal with its Zero Pollution Action Plan (ZPAP) is fundamental for the continued provision of safe and affordable drinking and waste water services, whose essential mission is to protect human health and the aquatic environment.
EurEau fully supports the zero pollution ambition and calls on the Commission to put water front and centre of the plan. Industry and agriculture have an important role to play in controlling pollution and rectifying environmental damage as much as possible at the source.
The action plan should propose concrete actions rather than focussing solely on establishing monitoring frameworks and promoting digital tools.