Directive 91/271/EEC, as amended by Directive 98/15/EC on urban waste water treatment (UWWT),concerns the collection, treatment and disposal of urban waste water and the treatment and disposal of biodegradable waste water from certain industrial sectors (mainly the agro-food industry). Its aim is to protect the environment from damage due to discharges of such waste waters.
Waste water treatment plants must be designed, constructed, operated and maintained so as to ensure sufficient performance under all normal climatic conditions prevalent at their locations. The points of discharge of the treated waste water must be chosen, as far as possible, so as to minimize the effects on the receiving water. The Directive sets out a timetable by which different sized agglomerations must comply with the treatment requirements set out in the Directive.
The discharge of all treated municipal waste water and the discharge of industrial waste water in sewers and treatment plants must be subject to prior rules and/or specific authorization. Treated waste water may be recirculated whenever appropriate, if such measures prove technically and environmentally feasible.
