EU Parliament to pass law improving water quality standards

New rules to improve water quality across Europe are expected to be passed by the European Parliament today (05/10/23).

The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive will mandate countries to step-up efforts in removing harmful micro-pollutants.

Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune is a lead negotiator for the revision of the EU’s water pollution and urban wastewater rules.It is one the most significant overhaul’s in EU water policy in over 30 years and forms the cornerstone of the EU Zero Pollution Package.

This revision includes tackling new pollution threats, increasing the availability and transparency of pollution data and requiring countries across Europe to alert each other about pollution events.  The proposal will also see Waste Water Treatment Plants across Europe becoming energy neutral by 2040.

Deirdre Clune Quotes:  “This is a crucial new piece of legislation. Reducing pollution and improving water quality in European lakes, rivers and coastal areas will significantly benefit the environment, while improving the well-being and health of EU citizens.”

“As part of the new legislative proposal, Member States including Ireland will have to remove harmful micro-pollutants from urban wastewaters as well as routinely monitor for pathogens such as Covid-19.”

“There is also an important agricultural angle to the legislation, with Member States being strongly encouraged to extract valuable resources such as phosphorus from sewage sludge for agricultural re-use, in line with our circular economy objectives.”

“We need ambitious and pragmatic laws to continue to improve Europe’s water quality – this is exactly what this new initiative achieves.”