Portugal taken to task by the EU for wastewater treatment failures

Twenty agglomerations in Portugal are not treating urban wastewater properly treated before being discharged. Three agglomerations are discharging urban wastewater in sensitive areas without the required extra treatment. The European Commission has therefore sent a letter of formal notice to Portugal. The Member State now has to respond and address the shortcomings. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the European Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.

The European Commission decided to open an infringement procedure by sending a letter of formal notice to Portugal for failing to fully comply with the obligations set in the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The Directive aims to protect people’s health and the environment by requiring that urban wastewater is collected and treated before being discharged into the environment. Untreated wastewater can put human health at risk and pollute lakes, rivers, soil, and coastal and groundwater.

Wastewater treatment in Portugal

Portugal has made significant progress in implementing the UWWTD. The country has established numerous Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP’s) and collection systems, leading to substantial improvements in water quality. According to the European Environment Agency, over 90% of urban wastewater in Portugal is treated in line with EU standards. In Portugal, urban wastewater is treated in 478 plants across the country before it is discharged.

Stricter European wastewater rules

The Council adopted a revised and more stringent Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) the 5th of November 2024. In the new Urban Wastewater Directive secondary treatment to urban wastewater before discharge will become obligatory to all agglomerations of 1.000 population equivalent (p.e.) or more by 2035. By 2039, EU countries will have to ensure the application of tertiary treatment, like the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus, in all plants covering 150.000 p.e. and above, and by 2045 in plants covering 10.000 p.e. and above. Quaternary treatment removing a broad spectrum of micropollutants will be mandatory for all plants over 150.000 p.e. (and over 10.000 p.e. based on a risk assessment) by 2045.