The European Commission are welcoming provisional agreement for more thorough and more cost-effective urban wastewater management, while reducing emissions through 100% renewable energy used by treatment plants by 2045. The recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) aims to adapt wastewater management in Europe, and will update legislation after 30 years in order to respond to pressing environmental and infrastructure challenges, including pharmaceutical pollution in the environment.
This includes:
- Progressive reinforcement of advanced (secondary, tertiary, quaternary) wastewater treatment, following site specific considerations
- Improved monitoring of emerging contaminants, including microplastics and PFAS
- Implementation of the polluter pays principle with the extended producer responsibility in which the cosmetic and medical sectors will contribute at least to 80% of the cost for the quaternary treatment
The polluter pays principle would enable fairer distribution of wastewater treatment costs (including for emerging contaminants), between polluting sectors and urban water users, while mitigating the impact on water affordability. The joint statement on the revision of the UWWTD from Water Europe indicates that the cost of the proposed EPR scheme to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries would be limited, with an increase in prices or an impact on profits estimated at < 1%. In no case will the proposal hinder the accessibility or affordability of medicines; the maximum average increase in the cost of pharmaceuticals is estimated at €1.9-2.4 per year/per person by 2040.
See related links:
More thorough and cost-effective urban wastewater management (europa.eu)