As part of efforts to achieve zero pollution by 2050, the European Commission unveiled stricter rules to tackle air and water pollution.

The European Commission is proposing stronger rules on surface and groundwater pollutants, and treatment of urban wastewater. “Day in and day out, we get new information about the degree to which public health is directly endangered by pollution,” EU Green Deal chief Frans Timmermans told a press conference.

‘Polluter pays’

The Commission put forward a proposal to improve the treatment of urban wastewater and ensure less pollution in rivers, lakes, groundwaters and seas.

Coverage in several outlets, including ENDSreport [paywall], Guardian, and EU Observer have focussed on the new targets and mechanisms. New rules especially target the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries which are responsible for the vast majority of toxic micro-pollutants found in EU wastewaters. Tougher EU rules would force major pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies to pay for the cost of waste treatment.  The European Commission said that 92% of toxic micropollutants in water came from pharmaceuticals and personal care products and new rules would require companies to pay for the upgrade of water treatment plants required for their removal, the FT reported.

Building on the so-called ‘polluter pays principle,’ Brussels proposed a new scheme that will require companies to pay for the cost of removing micropollutants in wastewater. To ensure cleaner rivers, lakes and wetlands, the commission has also suggested expanding the list of pollutants that require strict control by local and national authorities.

A total of 25 substances, including PFAS, a large group of the so-called forever chemicals, pesticides such as glyphosate, a component of plastic packaging and some pharmaceuticals, will be added to the list.

Proposed changes: Better and more cost-effective treatment of urban wastewater

The revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive will help cleaner rivers, lakes, groundwaters and seas, while making wastewater treatment more cost-effective.

Several improvements will support health and environmental protection. These include obligations to recover nutrients from wastewater, new standards for micropollutants and new monitoring requirements for microplastics. Obligations to treat water will be extended to smaller municipalities with 1,000 inhabitants (from 2,000 inhabitants currently). To help manage heavy rains, made more frequent by climate change, there is a requirement to establish integrated water management plans in larger cities. Finally, building upon the Covid-19 experience, the Commission proposes to systematically monitor wastewater for several viruses, amongst which CoV-SARS-19, and anti-microbial resistance.

EU countries will be required to ensure access to sanitation for all, in particular vulnerable and marginalised groups.

The wastewater sector has significant untapped renewable energy production potential, for example from biogas.  EU countries will be required to track industrial pollution at source to increase the possibilities of re-using sludge and treated wastewater, avoiding the loss of resources. Rules on recovering phosphorus from sludge will support their use to make fertiliser, benefiting food production.

The changes are estimated to increase costs by 3.8% (to €3.8 billion a year in 2040) for a benefit of over €6.6 billion a year, with a positive cost-benefit ratio in each Member State.

Protection of surface and groundwater against new pollutants

Based on up-to-date scientific evidence, the Commission is proposing to update lists of water pollutants to be more strictly controlled in surface waters and groundwater.

25 substances with well-documented problematic effects on nature and human health will be added to the lists. These include:

• PFAS, a large group of “forever chemicals” used among others in cookware, clothing and furniture, fire-fighting foam and personal care products;
• a range of pesticides and pesticide degradation products, such as glyphosate;
• Bisphenol A, a plasticiser and a component of plastic packaging;
• some pharmaceuticals used as painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as antibiotics.

In addition, standards for 16 pollutants already covered by the rules, including heavy metals and industrial chemicals, will be updated (mostly tightened) and four pollutants that are no longer an EU-wide threat will be removed.

Next steps

The proposals will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council in the ordinary legislative procedure. Once adopted, they will take effect progressively, with different targets for 2030, 2040, and 2050 – giving industry and authorities time to adapt and invest where necessary.