The European Council has formally adopted new rules for urban wastewater treatment, expanding protections to smaller towns and enforcing stricter standards to manage hazardous substances, a move aligned with the EU's Zero Pollution Action Plan. The directive mandates treatment upgrades to prevent dangerous pollutants—including nitrogen, phosphorus, and toxic micropollutants—from contaminating Europe’s water sources, while supporting the EU’s climate goals.
Focus on Hazardous Substances and Micropollutants
One of the major changes in the directive is the intensified focus on hazardous substances, specifically micropollutants like pharmaceuticals and personal care product residues, which pose significant health and environmental risks. To combat these, the new directive introduces quaternary treatment requirements at wastewater plants by 2045. This advanced treatment phase will target a wide spectrum of organic micropollutants, including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and synthetic chemicals found in cosmetics, which current treatment processes fail to adequately remove.
The EU’s latest data shows that micropollutants, even in minute concentrations, can disrupt aquatic ecosystems and accumulate in human and animal tissues, leading to long-term health effects. In response, the directive requires larger treatment plants with capacities of 150,000 population equivalents (p.e.) or more to install quaternary treatment technology. Smaller plants serving high-risk areas—such as drinking water sources, shellfish production areas, and bathing waters—will also need to comply.
Producer Responsibility for Hazardous Substances
To fund the costs associated with these advanced treatments, the directive establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, making manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics financially responsible for at least 80% of the quaternary treatment costs. This aligns with the “polluter pays” principle, encouraging industries to reduce hazardous chemicals in their products or invest in cleaner alternatives. The EPR scheme will be regularly evaluated, and additional high-risk products could be included as new data on micropollutants emerges.
Stricter Limits on Nutrients to Prevent Eutrophication
Beyond micropollutants, the directive sets enhanced limits for nitrogen and phosphorus, two nutrients linked to water eutrophication—a process that depletes oxygen levels, harming fish and aquatic plants. Treatment plants in regions with large urban populations and agriculture are now required to implement tertiary treatment to remove these nutrients. By 2039, facilities treating wastewater with loads above 150,000 p.e. must install tertiary treatment systems to meet stricter nitrogen and phosphorus removal standards, further safeguarding EU waterways.
Comprehensive Urban Water Management for Hazardous Runoff
The directive also mandates integrated management plans for urban areas to control pollution from stormwater runoff, which often carries hazardous substances from roads, industries, and agriculture. Agglomerations with over 100,000 p.e. must develop plans by 2033, while medium-sized communities (10,000–100,000 p.e.) will have plans by 2039, focusing on preventing pollutant discharge from stormwater during heavy rains. These plans will prioritise green infrastructure solutions, like green roofs and wetlands, which naturally filter hazardous substances before they reach water systems.
Deadlines and Flexibility for Member States
With the directive’s extensive new requirements, EU member states will receive flexibility to accommodate local conditions, particularly for recently joined members facing steep infrastructural costs. Specific derogations will be available, especially for small or rural agglomerations, and for high-mountain or coastal regions where standard treatment processes may be less effective. In these areas, the EU will support nature-based and alternative treatment solutions to control hazardous pollution.
A Stricter Framework for a Cleaner Europe
The updated directive represents one of the EU’s most ambitious efforts to date to tackle hazardous substances in wastewater. By expanding treatment standards, enhancing producer responsibility, and prioritising high-risk pollutants, the directive strengthens protections for water quality and public health across Europe. With robust monitoring and support systems in place, the EU aims to make meaningful strides toward achieving a zero-pollution environment by 2050.
