Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive Drinking Water Directive, their relation to the Water Framework Directive, in a context of scarcity

Transcription

1 Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive Drinking Water Directive, their relation to the Water Framework Directive, in a context of scarcity José RIZO European Commission Directorate General Environment 1

2 Our waters: diversity of uses, aspirations and impacts Tourism Nature Protection Agriculture Industy Drinking Water Flood Prevention/Protection Waste Water Disposal Agriculture Inland Navigation and Hydropower 2

3 Our waters: diversity of regions and environments 3

4 But similar problems Source: European Commission Joint Research Centre 4

5 and needs 5

6 EU policies and measures 6

7 A single implementation framework Drinking Water Directive Industrial Emissions Directive IPPC Daughter Dir. Priority Subst Bathing Water Directive 2006 Floods Directive 2007 Pesticides legislation Initiative Water Scarcity and Droughts Water Framework Directive Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 1991 Daughter Dir. Groundwater 2006 Nitrates Directive

8 Water Framework Directive Protection of all waters to achieve good status for all waters by 2015; Water management to be based on river basins, across administrative and political boundaries; Plans and programmes for achieving good status to be adopted and implemented; Water pricing policies to reflect cost recovery. 8

9 Basic Measures 9

10 UWWTD: Scope and Objectives Concerns the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water, as well as the treatment & discharge of waste water from some industrial sectors Aims to protect the environment from the adverse effects of discharges of urban waste water or from waste water from certain industrial (food-processing) sectors 10

11 UWWTD: Features Emission-oriented legislation Sewerage and waste water treatment in all agglomerations > 2000 p.e. Biological treatment as standard requirement, additional N and/or P removal in sensitive areas Industrial discharges to urban waste water collecting systems and uwwtps Industrial discharges (from agro-food industry > 4000p.e.) to water bodies Sustainable disposal and reuse of sewerage sludge Waste water re-use whenever appropriate Transboundary issues 11

12 Obligations Agglomeration COLLECTION Collecting system UWWTP TREATMENT Discharge point / Receiving area 12

13 Receiving waters: sensitive areas Natural freshwater lakes and other freshwater bodies, estuaries and coastal waters that are eutrophic or which in the near future may become eutrophic if protective action is not taken For freshwater bodies removal of P, and for big agglo. removal of N, unless For estuaries, bays and other coastal waters removal of P and/or P, unless Surface freshwaters intended for abstraction of drinking water which could contain more than 50 mg/l concentration of nitrate (75/440/EEC If further treatment than secondary is necessary to fulfil Council Directives: bathing, etc. 13

14 Sewerage (collecting systems) Waste water treatment to be taken into account in design, construction and maintenance of collecting systems Design, construction and maintenance in accordance with best technical knowledge and cost-benefit considerations, notably regarding volume and characteristics of wastewater prevention leaks in collecting systems pollution from storm water overflows 14

15 Treatment objectives Agglomeration size and discharge point/receiving waterbody defines treatment level Basically secondary treatment Additional N and P removal ( more stringent treatment ) in so-called sensitive areas, i.e. basically water bodies being eutrophic or tending to be eutrophic Catchment areas of sensitive areas (CAofSA) Exceptions in so less-sensitive areas, (certain marine areas, and in high mountain areas) 15

16 Deadlines for compliance 15 Member States joined the EU until 1995: 1998, 2000 and 2005, depending on the size of the agglomeration and the characteristics of the affected waters; 12 Member States joined in 2004 and 2007: staggered transition periods enshrined in the Accession Treaties, mostly in steps until 2015; Cyprus: : Limassol and Paramilini 2009: Nicosia 2011: Paphos 16

17 The situation 17

18 Drinking Water Directive Scope of application all drinking water supply systems serving >50 people; drinking water from containers and tankers; drinking water in bottles; water used in the food-processing industry. 18

19 DWD: Key principles and objectives Binding drinking water quality standards (microbiological and chemical parameters); Regular monitoring of drinking water quality; Obligation to take remedial action in case the monitoring reveals problems; Information of consumers. 19

20 DWD: Quality standards Core set of quality standards set at EU level; Obligation for Member States to set additional parameters and values, if the local / regional / national situation requires this; Timely limited derogations from chemical quality standards, if there is no risk to public health and a remediation plan is in place; Point of compliance is the tap of the consumer; however, contamination from domestic distribution systems (except schools, restaurants etc) are the sole responsibility of Member States 20

21 Water scarcity No legislation on water quantity Varied legislation on water quality: Substances (ELV) Substances (EQS) WFD MSFD: cycle completed The main problem, absent? 21

22 The Blue Print (2012) The principles assessed No new resources until all possible alternative measures are implemented Then, assessment of possible options Fitness check of legislation Political will and funds, essential for the UWWTD Legislation on efficiency? Incentives? (Structural and cohesion, CAP, etc) 22

23 DWD, UWWTD, Scarcity and Water Framework Directive Binding objectives will not change good status for all waters, as a rule by 2015; Specific protection for waters used or intended for use for drinking water abstraction; Combined approach of emission control measures and water quality standards, with the more stringent approach prevailing in each particular case Measures to protect drinking water and to implement the UWWTD must be included in the plans and programs. Measures to implement DWD and UWWTD must include the necessary measures under the WFD 23

24 UWWTD and Water Framework Directive Water pricing policy: charges for waste water collection and treatment reflect the principle of cost recovery and provide for an adequate contribution of different users; charges for drinking water reflect the principle of cost recovery and provide for an adequate contribution of different users. 24

25 25

26 26

27 Many thanks! 27