EU Environment Council agrees on improvements in the treatment of urban wastewater

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Summary:

The European Union's Council has adopted a general orientation on the Urban Waste Water Directive, which aims to reduce the entry of pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, into urban wastewater. The new orientation recommends the introduction of a fourth purification stage in wastewater treatment plants with a population of over 200,000. This change aims to protect European water bodies, including rivers and lakes, from the effects of climate change. The pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries will be required to share the costs of implementing this new purification stage, and further discussions will take place with the European Parliament and Commission to determine the scope of this responsibility. The plan also includes measures to limit nutrient inputs, improve wastewater monitoring, and promote integrated water management plans and energy neutrality of wastewater treatment plants.