Improving Europe’s water quality - How can the revised UWWTD be implemented fairly and effectively?
About this episode
The episode discusses the implementation of the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and its implications for water quality and industry responsibility in the EU.
On 1 January 2025, the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) entered into force. Through this initiative, the European Commission aims to protect human health and improve water quality, and hence the environment, for all EU citizens. One of the key innovations of the revised Directive is the introduction of an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. Under the Directive, micropollutants must be removed through quaternary wastewater treatment, with the costs financed via EPR by the sectors considered responsible for the pollution caused by the use of their products. The European Commission has identified the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries as the two sectors mainly responsible for the micropollution in wastewater. There is broad support for the EU’s environmental objectives, but opinions diverge on how these goals should be achieved and on the practical implementation of the Directive. Fair burden-sharing remains a central concern, with responsibility currently focused on just two industries. Concerns have been raised that the scheme risks imposing disproportionate financial burdens, potentially threatening the availability and affordability of…
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