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The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published data on World Toilet Day, which shows that the share of urban wastewaters collected and treated in line with EU standards is increasing across Europe.
FREMONT, CA: The EEA's new country profiles on urban wastewater treatment contain the most recent statistics on the implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive from all 27 EU Member States, as well as Iceland and Norway.
Interactive maps of wastewater treatment plants across Europe are included in the nation profiles. Each profile also includes information on the country's progress toward wastewater treatment goals, the preservation of vulnerable water systems, the utilization of wastewater sludge, and the wastewater treatment sector's greenhouse gas emissions.
Wastewater collection and treatment are improving across Europe, according to the data. Approximately 90 percent of urban wastewaters are collected and treated in compliance with the EU Waste Water Treatment Directive.
According to the nation profiles, four countries – Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands - treat 100 percent of their urban wastewater in accordance with the Directive's standards. In comparison, ten more countries have achieved a compliance rate of more than 90 percent. On the other hand, five nations – Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and Malta - comply with the same rules in fewer than half of their urban regions.
Urban wastewater must be handled appropriately as it may contain bacteria, viruses, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other harmful pollutants to the environment and human health.
The EU Metropolitan Waste Water Directive establishes a timetable for constructing wastewater collection and treatment facilities in urban areas. In general, wastewater must go through biological treatment (also known as "secondary treatment"), which removes many organic contaminants, bacteria, and viruses. In bigger metropolitan areas connected to sensitive water bodies, further nitrogen and phosphorus removal are required to lessen the risk of algal blooms.
The new nation profiles are available on the Freshwater platform of the Water Information System for Europe (WISE), which is being transformed into a one-stop-shop for data and information on European freshwater and policy assessments.
