This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Urban waste water treatment
SUMMARY OF:
Directive 91/271/EEC – urban wastewater treatment
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?
KEY POINTS
FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?
From 29 May 1991, with several different deadlines for the various requirements. In 1998, the Commission adopted Directive 98/15/EC to clarify some of the rules due to differing interpretations in EU countries. This came into force on 27 March 1998. Other deadlines apply to countries that joined the EU from 2004 onwards. These are specified in the Accession Treaties with each of the countries concerned.
BACKGROUND
For more information, see:
* KEY TERMS
Eutrophication: enrichment of water by nutrients causing, among other things, an accelerated growth of algae which disturb the balance of water organisms and the water quality.
Secondary treatment: a process generally involving biological treatment, so that the requirements in Annex I of the Directive are accomplished.
Sensitive areas: natural waters which are found to be or may become eutrophic in the near future if protective action is not taken, or those which need more advance treatment to reach compliance with other EU directives (e.g., the Bathing Water Directive)
MAIN DOCUMENT
Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban wastewater treatment (OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, pp. 40–52)
Successive amendments to Directive 91/271/EEC have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Commission Implementing Decision 2014/431/EU of 26 June 2014 concerning formats for reporting on the national programmes for the implementation of Council Directive 91/271/EEC (OJ L 197, 4.7.2014, pp. 77–86)
Report from the Commission — Implementation of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban wastewater treatment, as amended by Commission Directive 98/15/EC of 27 February 1998 — Summary of the measures implemented by the Member States and assessment of the information received pursuant to Articles 17 and 13 of the Directive (COM(98) 775 final, 15.1.1999)
Commission Report — Implementation of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban wastewater treatment, as amended by Commission Directive 98/15/EC of 27 February 1998 (COM(2001) 685 final, 21.11.2001)
Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions:— Implementation of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban wastewater treatment, as amended by Commission Directive 98/15/EC of 27 February 1998 (COM(2004) 248 final, 23.4.2004)
Commission Staff Working Document — Accompanying document to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council — ‘Towards Sustainable Water Management in the European Union’ — First stage in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC [COM(2007) 128 final] [SEC(2007) 363] (SEC(2007) 362 final, 22.3.2007)
Commission Staff Working Document — 5th Commission Summary on the Implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (SEC(2009) 1114 final, 3.8.2009)
Commission Staff Working Document — 6th Commission Summary on the Implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (SEC(2011) 1561 final, 7.12.2011)
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — Seventh report on the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) (COM(2013) 574 final, 7.8.2013)
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — Eighth Report on the Implementation Status and the Programmes for Implementation (as required by Article 17) of Council Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste water treatment (COM(2016) 105 final, 4.3.2016)
last update 13.02.2017