EEA: New challenges require extra investments WWTP’s

‘More investment is needed to make urban Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP’s) fit to meet the difficult challenges posed by the impacts of climate change and the presence of antibiotics and other micro-pollutants in waste water.’ This states the European Environment Agency (EEA) in a briefing published on Wednesday 9 October.

According to the European Environment Agency 97% of the households in western-central Europe is connected to a WWTP.  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 %. 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 mostly individual treatment methods like septic tanks are used. The most recent available information of the status of WWTP’s in Europe  can be seen in this interactive map.

Overflow

The last years the understanding of the challenges faced by urban waste water treatment has improved. Climate change means in some areas heavy rainfall will be more frequent. In urban areas rain enters combined sewer networks faster than they 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. Separate reservoirs for rainwater and black and industrial water can provide a solution.

Water reuse

In other areas, climate change leads to reduced rainfall. As a first step, improving water efficiency to reduce unnecessary use can conserve both water and the energy used in 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.

Chemical mixtures

Also the presence of hazardous substances form a new challenge. 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. There is a special concern on the mixtures of chemicals in the environment — the so-called ‘cocktail effect’ — that may impact aquatic life. 

Resistant bacteria

Another 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 diseases and are now resisting medicinal treatment. The World Health Organisation stated in 2018 that as a consequence it has become increasingly difficult to tackle certain infections. Wastewater in South Europe contains more resistant bacteria than in North Europe. Currently the European Commission is evaluating the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive to see if it works well and is adequate for current and newer issues.