Difference between revisions of "Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive"

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The Council Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste-water treatment was adopted on 21 May 1991. Its objective is to protect the environment from the adverse effects of urban waste water discharges and discharges from certain industrial sectors and concerns the collection, treatment and discharge of domestic waste water, mixture of waste water and waste water from industrial sectors.
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<P ALIGN="justify">The '''Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWT)''' (Council Directive 91/271/EEC) was adopted on 21 May 1991. The Directive concerns the '''collection, treatment and discharge''' of '''urban waste water''' and the treatment and discharge of certain '''industrial waste waters'''. Its aim is '''to protect the environment''' from the adverse effects of insufficiently treated urban waste water discharges and discharges of industrial waste water from food-processing industries.</P>
  
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== Objectives and requirements ==
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* Collection and treatment of waste water (including industrial waste waters) in all [[agglomeration|agglomerations]] with a [[Population equivalent|population equivalent]] (p.e.) > 2000.
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* Secondary treatment (i.e. biological treatment) as rule; more stringent treatment in sensitive areas and their catchments for agglomerations > 10000 p.e.
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* Permit procedure for treatment plants, for discharges from the agro-food industry ( > 4000 p.e.) and for industrial discharges from urban waste water sewerage systems.
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* Monitoring of performance on treatment plants and affected waters and controls on sewage sludge disposal / reuse.
  
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== Principles ==
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==Timeframe==
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Four main principles are laid down in the Directive:
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{|border="1" align=left cellspacing="0" cellpadding = "8" width="1000px"
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!style="background: #398C9D"|'''Deadline'''
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!style="background: #398C9D"| '''Task'''
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|-
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| 31 December 1993
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|
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*Designation of sensitive areas and identification of less sensitive areas
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*Discharge of industrial waste water into collecting systems and urban waste water treatment plants subject to prior regulation and authorization
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*Requirements for authorization of direct discharges of industrial waste water from food processing industries to surface water in place
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|-
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| 31 December 1998
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|
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*Collecting systems for agglomerations > 10000 p.e. where discharges are into a sensitive area and its catchment
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*Disposal of sludge subject to registration or authorization
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*Disposal of sludge to surface waters is banned
  
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===Planning===
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|-
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| 31 December 2000
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|
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*Collecting systems for agglomerations > 15000 p.e. discharging into normal areas
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*All discharges from agglomerations > 15000 p.e. subject to secondary treatment
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*Direct discharges of industrial biodegradable waste water from plants of > 4000 p.e. to surface water subject to prior regulation/authorization
  
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The planning aspects of the Directive require Member States to:
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|-
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| 31 December 2005
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|
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*Collecting systems for all agglomerations > 2000 p.e.
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*All discharges from agglomerations 10000 –15000 p.e. subject to secondary treatment
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*Discharges to freshwater and estuaries from agglomerations between 2000 and 10000 p.e. subject to secondary treatment
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*Discharges to freshwater and estuaries from agglomerations < 2000 p.e. subject to appropriate treatment
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*Discharges to coastal waters from agglomerations < 10000 p.e. subject to appropriate treatment
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|-
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|}
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<br style="clear:both;"/>
  
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    Designate sensitive areas (sensitive water bodies) in accordance with three specific criteria, and to review their designation every four years;
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== Obligations ==
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    Identify the relevant hydraulic catchment areas of the sensitive areas and ensure that all discharges from agglomerations with more than 10 000 p.e. located within the catchment shall have more stringent than secondary treatment;
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The regulations have obligations for Member States in respect of the collection, treatment and monitoring of urban waste water.
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    Establish less sensitive areas if relevant;
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==== Planning====
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    Establish a technical and financial programme for the implementation of the Directive for the construction of sewage collecting systems and wastewater treatment plants addressing treatment objectives within the deadlines set up by the Directive (and the Accession Treaties for new Member States).
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# Identify agglomerations and calculate the size (p.e.).
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# Inventory and current status (size, collecting systems, treatment level, monitoring systems, sludge management) of agglomerations > 2000 p.e.
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# Designate sensitive areas and identify their relevant hydraulic catchment areas and ensure that all discharges from agglomerations > 10000 p.e. located within the catchment have collecting systems and more stringent treatment.
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# Establish a technical and financial programme for the construction of sewage collecting systems and waste water treatment plants.
  
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===Regulation===
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==== Regulation ====
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# Establish systems of prior regulation or authorization for all urban and industrial waste water discharges into urban sewage collecting systems.
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# Establish systems of prior regulation and / or specific authorization and permits for food processing industries.
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# All urban waste water generated in agglomerations > 2000 p.e. must be supplied with collecting systems.
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# Member States should take measures to limit pollution of receiving waters from storm water overflows via collecting systems.
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# Waste water treatment is provided for all agglomerations at the level specified by the Directive.
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# Maintain the technical requirements for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of (urban) waste water treatment plants.
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# Protect the environment from adverse effects of the discharge of waste water.
  
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The regulation aspects of the Directive require Member States to:
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==== Monitoring ====
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<P ALIGN="justify">
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Member States ensure that monitoring programs of discharges from urban waste water treatment plants and receiving waters are in place and that they correspond to the requirements in terms of parameters monitored, analytical method and sampling frequency.</P>
  
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    Establish systems of prior regulation or authorisation for all discharges of urban wastewater;
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==== Information and reporting ====
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    Establish systems of prior regulation or authorisation for discharges of industrial wastewater into urban sewage collecting systems to ensure:
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# Cooperation and exchange of information with other Member States when discharges of waste water have a transboundary effect on water quality of shared waters.
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        Treatment plant operation and sludge treatment will not be impeded;
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# Adequate reporting procedures and databases regarding the status of collecting systems, discharges from the food-processing industry to surface waters, efficiency of treatment plants and the quality of receiving waters and national legislation, implementation programs and situation reports on the disposal and re-use of treated urban waste water and sewage sludge.
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        No adverse effect on the environment (including receiving waters) will occur; and
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# Publication (every two year) of status reports on waste water collection and treatment and disposal on re-use of sludge.
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        The safe disposal of sewage sludge.
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# Access for the public to relevant information.
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    Establish systems of prior regulation and/or specific authorisation and permits for food processing industries;
 
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    Ensure that all urban wastewater generated in agglomerations with more than 2000 p.e. are supplied with collecting systems, and that the capacity of these is such that all urban waste water is collected, taking account of normal local climatic conditions and seasonal variations;
 
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    Ensure that national authorities take measures to limit pollution of receiving waters from storm water overflows via collecting systems under unusual situations, such as heavy rain;
 
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    Ensure that wastewater treatment is provided for all agglomerations at the level specified by the Directive and within the required deadline:
 
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        Secondary treatment is the basic level that should be provided, with more stringent treatment being required in sensitive areas and their catchments;
 
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        For certain discharges in coastal waters treatment may be less stringent (i.e. primary treatment) under certain conditions and subject to the agreement of the European Commission;
 
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        For agglomerations with a population equivalent of less than 2000 but equipped with a collecting system, appropriate treatment must be provided.
 
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    Ensure that technical requirements for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants treating urban wastewater are maintained and that they ensure adequate capacity of the plant and treatment of urban wastewater generated in agglomerations taking into account normal climatic conditions and seasonal variations;
 
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    Ensure that the environment is protected from adverse effects of the discharge of wastewater;
 
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    Ensure that the environmentally and technically sound reuse or disposal of sewage sludge is subject to general rules, registration or authorisation and that the requirement of specific inter-linked Directives for agricultural re-use (86/278/EEC), incineration (89/429/EEC and 89/369/EEC), and landfill (99/31/EC) are respected. The disposal of sewage sludge to surface waters is banned.
 
  
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===Monitoring===
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==References==
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Text of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:1991:135:0040:0052:EN:PDF]
  
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he monitoring aspects of the Directive require Member States to ensure that monitoring programmes are in place and that the programmes correspond to the requirements laid down in Annex I D of the Directive (en pdf 160KB) in terms of parameters monitored, analytical method and sampling frequency. Member States are required to ensure that both discharges from urban wastewater treatment plants and receiving waters are monitored.
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==External links==
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[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-urbanwaste/index_en.html European Commission, Urban Wastewater Directive Overview]
  
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===Information and reporting===
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[[Category:Legislation and conventions]]
  
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The information and reporting provisions of the Directive require Member States to ensure that the following are put in place:
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{{author
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|AuthorID=26102
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    Adequate mechanisms to allow the co-operation and exchange of information with other Member States in cases where discharges of wastewater have a transboundary effect on water quality of shared waters;
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|AuthorFullName= Knockaert, Carolien
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    Adequate reporting procedures and databases to allow the provision of information to the Commission on:
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|AuthorName=Carolienk}}
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        Transposition of the Directive into national legislation, implementation programmes and situation reports on the disposal and re-use of treated urban wastewater and sewage sludge;
 
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        Status of collecting systems, efficiency of treatment plants (i.e. treatment level and monitoring results) and the quality of receiving waters; and
 
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        Status of discharges from the food-processing industry to surface waters;
 
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    Access for the public to relevant information and the publication of status reports every two years on the status of wastewater collection and treatment and disposal or re-use of sludge.
 

Latest revision as of 09:28, 8 August 2019

The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWT) (Council Directive 91/271/EEC) was adopted on 21 May 1991. The Directive concerns the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water and the treatment and discharge of certain industrial waste waters. Its aim is to protect the environment from the adverse effects of insufficiently treated urban waste water discharges and discharges of industrial waste water from food-processing industries.

Objectives and requirements

  • Collection and treatment of waste water (including industrial waste waters) in all agglomerations with a population equivalent (p.e.) > 2000.
  • Secondary treatment (i.e. biological treatment) as rule; more stringent treatment in sensitive areas and their catchments for agglomerations > 10000 p.e.
  • Permit procedure for treatment plants, for discharges from the agro-food industry ( > 4000 p.e.) and for industrial discharges from urban waste water sewerage systems.
  • Monitoring of performance on treatment plants and affected waters and controls on sewage sludge disposal / reuse.

Timeframe

Deadline Task
31 December 1993
  • Designation of sensitive areas and identification of less sensitive areas
  • Discharge of industrial waste water into collecting systems and urban waste water treatment plants subject to prior regulation and authorization
  • Requirements for authorization of direct discharges of industrial waste water from food processing industries to surface water in place
31 December 1998
  • Collecting systems for agglomerations > 10000 p.e. where discharges are into a sensitive area and its catchment
  • Disposal of sludge subject to registration or authorization
  • Disposal of sludge to surface waters is banned
31 December 2000
  • Collecting systems for agglomerations > 15000 p.e. discharging into normal areas
  • All discharges from agglomerations > 15000 p.e. subject to secondary treatment
  • Direct discharges of industrial biodegradable waste water from plants of > 4000 p.e. to surface water subject to prior regulation/authorization
31 December 2005
  • Collecting systems for all agglomerations > 2000 p.e.
  • All discharges from agglomerations 10000 –15000 p.e. subject to secondary treatment
  • Discharges to freshwater and estuaries from agglomerations between 2000 and 10000 p.e. subject to secondary treatment
  • Discharges to freshwater and estuaries from agglomerations < 2000 p.e. subject to appropriate treatment
  • Discharges to coastal waters from agglomerations < 10000 p.e. subject to appropriate treatment


Obligations

The regulations have obligations for Member States in respect of the collection, treatment and monitoring of urban waste water.

Planning

  1. Identify agglomerations and calculate the size (p.e.).
  2. Inventory and current status (size, collecting systems, treatment level, monitoring systems, sludge management) of agglomerations > 2000 p.e.
  3. Designate sensitive areas and identify their relevant hydraulic catchment areas and ensure that all discharges from agglomerations > 10000 p.e. located within the catchment have collecting systems and more stringent treatment.
  4. Establish a technical and financial programme for the construction of sewage collecting systems and waste water treatment plants.

Regulation

  1. Establish systems of prior regulation or authorization for all urban and industrial waste water discharges into urban sewage collecting systems.
  2. Establish systems of prior regulation and / or specific authorization and permits for food processing industries.
  3. All urban waste water generated in agglomerations > 2000 p.e. must be supplied with collecting systems.
  4. Member States should take measures to limit pollution of receiving waters from storm water overflows via collecting systems.
  5. Waste water treatment is provided for all agglomerations at the level specified by the Directive.
  6. Maintain the technical requirements for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of (urban) waste water treatment plants.
  7. Protect the environment from adverse effects of the discharge of waste water.

Monitoring

Member States ensure that monitoring programs of discharges from urban waste water treatment plants and receiving waters are in place and that they correspond to the requirements in terms of parameters monitored, analytical method and sampling frequency.

Information and reporting

  1. Cooperation and exchange of information with other Member States when discharges of waste water have a transboundary effect on water quality of shared waters.
  2. Adequate reporting procedures and databases regarding the status of collecting systems, discharges from the food-processing industry to surface waters, efficiency of treatment plants and the quality of receiving waters and national legislation, implementation programs and situation reports on the disposal and re-use of treated urban waste water and sewage sludge.
  3. Publication (every two year) of status reports on waste water collection and treatment and disposal on re-use of sludge.
  4. Access for the public to relevant information.

References

Text of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive [1]

External links

European Commission, Urban Wastewater Directive Overview

The main author of this article is Knockaert, Carolien
Please note that others may also have edited the contents of this article.
Citation: Knockaert, Carolien (2019): Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Urban_Wastewater_Treatment_Directive [accessed on 1-05-2024]
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