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Briefing
For most European citizens, sewage from our toilets, sinks and washing machines goes down pipes to be treated, reducing disease-causing organisms and the nutrient load that would otherwise cause pollution and the proliferation of algae.
Waste water from households and industry creates significant pressure on the aquatic environment because of the loads of organic matter and nutrients it contains. If released into waterways, ammonia and natural processes break down organic matter in the water but can use up the oxygen, making the river uninhabitable for fish and invertebrates. Meanwhile, excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can cause plants and algae to grow excessively, cutting out light and using up the oxygen in the water through respiration or when the plants decay (Picture 1). The widespread introduction of effective waste water treatment during the 20th century has greatly improved human health and environmental quality.
Image © Caroline Whalley
The proportion of households connected to waste water treatment facilities varies across Europe. In western-central Europe, for example, the connection rate is 97 %. In southern, south-eastern and eastern European countries, it is generally lower, although it has increased over the last 10 years to reach about 70 % (EEA, 2017a). Despite these significant improvements in recent years, around 30 million people are still not connected to waste water treatment plants in Europe. In areas where people live far apart, it may be more practical to use individual treatment methods like septic tanks to deal with sewage.
Sewers need to be built to collect sewage and transport it to a waste water treatment plant. There, differing levels of treatment can be applied and usually include:
More information about treatment types in specific urban waste water treatment plants is available: EEA urban waste water treatment maps
Sewage sludge, formed by bacteria as a result of the consumption of organic pollution, arises as a by-product of waste water treatment. A range of treatments allow the safe disposal of the sludge. Liming and aerobic or anaerobic digestion stabilise the sludge, avoiding odour and reducing pathogenic organisms. Anaerobic digestion reduces the amount of sludge and produces biogas, while dewatering removes excess water, decreasing the weight and reducing transportation costs.
Different disposal routes exist, depending mostly on national regulatory frameworks and sludge quality. Approximately half the sewage sludge produced by EU Member States is spread on land as fertiliser and a quarter is incinerated (Eureau, 2017). Sludge can contain high concentrations of metals, pathogens and persistent trace organic pollutants, so its use on land may be restricted to protect the environment.
Past decades have seen billions of euros invested across Europe in the collection and treatment of urban waste water to remove harmful microorganisms, oxygen-consuming substances and nutrients (EC, 2017). This investment means that most Europeans no longer need to worry about the quality of their drinking water or local waterways (EEA, 2016, 2017b). However, our understanding of the challenges faced by urban waste water treatment has improved, for instance, in our knowledge of climate change and of the presence of hazardous substances. As we address these, we can use the opportunity to implement more sustainable solutions (Fig 1).
Source: EEA
In some areas, climate change means heavy rainfall will be more frequent. In urban areas — where rainwater drains into the sewers carrying domestic sewage and industrial waste water (so-called ‘combined sewers’) — the rain enters the combined sewer network faster than it was designed for. This can cause overloading of the sewer network, leading to surface water flooding and overflow at urban waste water treatment plants, with untreated sewage flowing into rivers, lakes or coastal areas. Sustainable urban drainage systems can provide a solution, as they are designed to manage runoff in a sustainable way.
In other areas, climate change will lead to reduced rainfall. As a first step, improving water efficiency to reduce unnecessary use can conserve both water and the energy used in its transport and treatment. However, waste water treatment itself can play an important role in increasing the water availability. High level treatment can remove pollutants, so that the treated water can be reused. The EU is, in 2019, preparing a regulation on the reuse of urban waste water for agricultural irrigation.
The challenge |
Solutions implemented by countries |
Storm water management: adapting to climate change
|
Waste water treatment plants in Malmö, Sweden, discharge to coastal areas. An open storm water system designed to accommodate a 15-year rainfall event includes 6 km of canals and water channels, 10 retention ponds, 30 green roofs and a botanical roof garden on an old, industrial roof. Rainfall is collected in natural ditches and reservoirs before being directed into a conventional sewer system. The system is integrated within green spaces that can be temporarily flooded to help manage water by slowing its entry into the conventional storm water system. This system avoids energy use by diverting storm water away from collection systems and waste water treatment. |
Seasonal increases in population and water scarcity
|
In Malta, the Ta’Bakrat urban waste water treatment plant serves 434 000 population equivalent (p.e.), treating approximately 80 % of all waste water in Malta. It is subject to particular pressures during the tourist season. Investment in treatment technology helps address the issue of water scarcity, as the installation aims to provide 7 billion litres of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation and aquifer recharge each year. New treatment construction costs EUR 20 million, with a further EUR 20 million invested in irrigation infrastructure. |
In urban areas it can be a challenge to find space to install new treatment plants or upgrade existing ones. There can be public opposition to development near residential areas, owing to noise and odour concerns.
In rural areas, population densities, the nature of the ground and surface water characteristics are key to deciding the type of collection and treatment system needed. Individual treatment systems, like septic tanks, are often used, since investment in sewers and treatment is generally costly and may impact heavily on a few users. The treatment plant needs to be able to operate with low volumes of water. Moreover, it can be difficult to find suitably qualified personnel to operate the treatment plant.
The challenge |
Solutions implemented by countries |
Small, rural area with seasonal increase in population
|
The Rowy treatment plant in Poland deals with urban waste water from 5 000 p.e in winter and three times as much in the summer. It discharges directly into the Łupawy river. With increasing numbers of tourists, the plant was upgraded to increase capacity and introduce more efficient technologies. It was rebuilt to operate in two modes: part operation in ‘winter’ mode when there is less waste water to process; and full operation in ‘summer’ mode to deal with higher quantities of waste water. The upgrade cost approximately €7.5 million, with energy savings recorded in the winter. |
In recent years, efforts have been put in place to reduce the energy consumption of infrastructure. Many urban waste water treatment plants have invested in technologies to better control processes and use less electricity, with non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions decreasing by 20% between 2005 and 2017 (EEA, 2019a). The capture of biogas resulting from the processes and the implementation of anaerobic digestion can be used to support the plants’ energy needs. Energy efficiency measures include the recovery of heat from waste water processes and the use of space to accommodate wind turbines and solar panels, providing renewable energy.
The challenge |
Solutions implemented by countries |
Improving resource and energy efficiency
|
In the Netherlands, the Amersfoort urban waste water treatment plant (315 000 p.e.), receives domestic and light industrial effluent. The treatment process comprises physical treatment, and carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus removal. The final effluent is discharged to the River Eem. In 2016, Amersfoort was converted into a regional sludge processing hub for several waste water treatment plants in the area, supported by the EU LIFE programme (with EUR 10.5 million). It uses innovative technologies to recover phosphorus and nitrogen from sludge for commercial nutrient use, producing a fertiliser as well as biogas. It is 100 % energy self-sufficient and exports energy to power 600 city dwellings. |
In some cases, where the receiving water is particularly sensitive, treated effluent must meet a very high standard. This is done, for instance to avoid nutrients that cause excessive algal growth when discharged into Nutrient Sensitive Areas under the Water Framework Directive; to kill pathogens if discharge is near bathing waters; upstream of drinking water abstraction; or in watercourses with European or international protection.
The challenge |
Solutions implemented by countries |
Discharge into sensitive area and provision for broader infrastructure
|
The Arad urban waste water treatment plant in Romania has a treatment capacity of 225 000 p.e. It discharges effluent into a highly sensitive stretch of the Mures River, designated a Special Protection Area for birds and a Nutrient Sensitive Area. Upgrades to seven treatment plants — co-financed by the EU Cohesion Fund — rehabilitated the plants, as well as reservoirs, water transmission pipes and the sewerage network. The waste water treatment plant upgrade cost EUR 18 million. This resulted in a significant reduction in the organic and nutrient pollution load entering the River Mures. |
Protection of drinking water aquifer
|
The Wulpen urban waste water treatment plant in Belgium has a capacity of 74 700 p.e. The aquifer of St-André needed to be protected from saline intrusion as a result of over-abstraction. The upgraded plant includes more stringent treatments to remove phosphorus and disinfect the effluent. The treated water is of superior quality — similar to that of drinking water — is free of micropollutants and pathogens, and is used to recharge the aquifer. The project cost EUR 6 million and was financed by the EU’s 7th Framework Programme. |
In recent years, concern has increased regarding the presence of many chemicals at low concentrations within the water environment. With so many different substances in use, many chemicals reach surface waters via urban waste water treatment plants applying traditional treatment methods. Research has shown that many of the chemicals in waste waters now arise from use in our homes and leaching from products, or are directly added in the case of cleaning products and excreted pharmaceuticals (UKWIR, 2018). Concern is growing over the presence of mixtures of chemicals in the environment — the so-called ‘cocktail effect’ — that may be impacting aquatic life (EEA, 2019b).
An example of a possible new concern is antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which arises from the use of antimicrobials, such as antibiotics, in human and veterinary medicine. Use and excretion of antimicrobial agents has resulted in the evolution of resistant bacteria, viruses and microbes, which can cause disease and are now resisting medicinal treatment. As a consequence, it has become increasingly difficult to tackle certain infections (WHO, 2018). Urban waste water treatment plants could be transferring AMR genes to the environment, but currently there is very limited information on the pathways for AMR in the environment to reach humans and the significance of this (EEA, 2019c).
Continued vigilance will be needed to tackle new issues for waste water treatment as they are identified.
In the EU, the main objective of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) and equivalent national legislation for non-EU countries, is to protect the environment from the adverse effects of waste water discharges. This is achieved through the collection and treatment of waste water in settlements and areas of economic activity with a p.e. of more than 2 000. In most cases, the Directive sets out that waste water must be subject to secondary treatment but in catchments with particularly sensitive waters, more stringent waste water treatment may be required. Currently the European Commission is evaluating the Directive to see if works well and is adequate for current and newer issues.
The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) established a framework for the protection of rivers, lakes, transitional waters (estuaries), coastal waters and ground water. It aims to ensure that all surface water bodies are at good chemical and ecological status, displaying minimal signs of impact from human development. Meeting the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive is the baseline for water pollution coming from urban areas.
Symbol | Brief explanation |
---|---|
Storm water management — adapting to climate change | |
Resource and energy efficiency | |
Operating in areas with seasonally high population | |
Operating in water scarce regions | |
Compliance with European legislation — discharging into sensitive waters | |
Urban and rural waste treatment provision |
EC, 2017, Ninth Report on the implementation status and the programmes for implementation (as required by Article 17) of Council Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste water treatment. Accessed 22/05/2019
EEA, 2016. European water policies and public health. Accessed 21/06/2019
EEA, 2017a. Changes in urban waste water treatment in Europe. Accessed 21/06/2019
EEA, 2017b. Restoring European rivers and lakes in cities improves quality of life. Accessed 21/06/2019
EEA, 2018, Signals: Water is Life. Accessed 21/06/2019
EEA, 2019a, EEA greenhouse gas data viewer. Accessed 8/10/2019
EEA, 2019b, Chemicals in European Waters. Accessed 22/05/2019
EEA, 2019c, Meeting report: Antimicrobial resistance and urban waste water treatment. Accessed 19/06/2019
EEA, 2019d, Climate-ADAPT Water management. Accessed 3/10/2019
EEA, 2019e, Industrial Waste Water Treatment. Accessed 3/10/2019
Eureau, 2017, Europe’s water in figures. Accessed 19/06/2019
Ricardo Energy and Environment, 2019, Urban Waste Water Treatment: Existing approaches, challenges and opportunities. Accessed 19/06/2019
UKWIR, 2018, The National Chemical Investigations Programme 2015-2020, London
UN, n.d. Sustainable Development Goal 6, clean water and sanitation. Accessed 21/06/2019
WHO, 2018, Antimicrobial resistance, World Health Organization. Accessed 22/05/2019
electricity, with non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions decreasing by 20% between 2005 and 2017 (EEA, 2019a).
The country assessments are the sole responsibility of the EEA member and cooperating countries supported by the EEA through guidance, translation and editing.
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/urban-waste-water-treatment-for/urban-waste-water-treatment or scan the QR code.
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