Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD)

Urban wastewater is the water that flows down our drains and toilets from homes, businesses, and hospitals in towns and cities. It includes sewage as well as rainwater runoff from streets and surfaces. This wastewater is collected and treated before it is released back into rivers, lakes, or the sea to protect public health and the environment.

Micropollutants are minute chemical residues – such as those from medicines, cosmetics, food additives, and household products – that can persist in water and may affect people and the environment. When patients take medicines, trace amounts are naturally excreted and end up in wastewater. Improper disposal of unused medicines can also contribute. These sources are distinct from pharmaceutical manufacturing, which is already strictly regulated and controlled.

The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD; 91/271/EEC) was established in 1991 to protect public health and the environment by ensuring that wastewater from homes, businesses, and industries in urban areas is collected and properly treated before being released into nature. In November 2024, the European Parliament adopted a revised Directive introducing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations. Member States must implement the new requirements by 2027, with EPR obligations for in-scope companies starting in 2028.

The Directive mandates the installation of new infrastructure and advanced treatment technologies – such as advanced oxidation, activated carbon, and membrane filtration – at wastewater sites. As set by the Directive, at least 80% of the associated costs of these upgrades (including land, construction, technology, and operation) are intended to be covered by the private sector – and within that, only the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors have been included.

IPHA fully supports the ambition of cleaner water for all and is committed to environmental sustainability. Our members are prepared to pay their fair share of reasonable costs for treating micropollutants originating from our sector. However, the Directive currently assigns 66% of the micropollution present (toxic load) to medicines – far higher than independent estimates suggest (as low as 18%). Crucially, only two industries are included, even though micropollutants come from other sectors and sources. This approach undermines the ‘polluter pays’ principle and removes incentives for other sectors to develop greener alternatives. IPHA is seeking to improve the Directive so that costs are allocated fairly, and all industries help secure clean water for Europe. We believe a robust, scientific methodology should underpin any cost allocation and that all contributors to micropollutant loads should play their part. Together, we can achieve cleaner water if all industries have a role.