EU-Policy
EWA with its ETSC (European Technical and Scientific Committee) and the EPC (European Policy Committee) has a strong technical and EU-policy-oriented structure that ensures that the Association is able to deliver high quality, timely output on a wide range of environmental issues. The secretariat at the Hennef office supports the work of committees and task groups. We are always keen to consider new members of task groups or offers of support and advice.
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD)
The EU’s Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive currently in force is more than 30 years old. Since its adoption in 1991, the quality of European rivers, lakes and seas has dramatically improved. EU countries have set up collecting systems and wastewater treatment plants with the help of EU funding. Yet there is still pollution that needs to be addressed and is not covered by the current rules. To address this, the Commission has proposed an update to the Directive.
The Directive aims to protect human health and the environment from the effects of untreated urban wastewater. It therefore requires EU countries to ensure that towns, cities and settlements properly collect and treat wastewater.
You can read here EWA Position Paper on the UWWTD (2022)
River Basin Management and Water Framework Directive
Common Implementation Strategy (CIS)
The implementation of the Water Framework Directive raises a number of shared technical challenges for the Member States, the Commission, the Candidate and EEA Countries as well as stakeholders and NGOs.