Activities of Alexandr VONDRA related to 2022/0345(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Urban wastewater treatment (debate)
Amendments (19)
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In order to ensure that the integrated urban wastewater management plans are cost-effective, it is important that they are based on best practices in advanced urban areas taking into account the availability of digital tools. Therefore, the measures to be considered should be based on a thorough analysis of the local conditions and should favour a preventive approach aiming at limiting the collection of unpolluted rain waters and optimising the use of existing infrastructures. With a preference for ‘green’ developments, new grey infrastructures should only be envisaged where absolutely necessary. In order to protect the environment, in particular the coastal and marine environment, and public health, including the protection of the sources of drinking water production, from being adversely affected by the discharge of insufficiently treated urban wastewater, secondary treatment should be applied to all discharges of urban wastewater from agglomerations of 1 000 p.e. and above.
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The evaluation has also shown that the wastewater treatment sector offers the opportunity to significantly reduce its own energy consumption and to produce renewable energy, for example by better use of the available surfaces in urban wastewater treatment plants for solar energy production or by producing biogas from sludge. At the heart of this water- energy nexus is the rapidly growing realisation that climate and water systems are linked, and changes in one system induce important, non-linear changes in the other one. Climate neutrality goals and attention to water resources shall then be developed in a mutually reinforcing way by achieving a Water Smart Society. It means that the value of water is recognised and realised, all available water sources are managed so that water scarcity and pollution are avoided; the water system is resilient against the impact of demographic changes, droughts and floods, and all relevant stakeholders are engaged to guarantee sustainable water governance, while water and resource loops are largely closed to foster a circular economy. The evaluation also illustrated that, without clear legal obligations, only partial progress can be expected in this sector. In this context, Member States should be required to ensure that the total annual energy used by all urban wastewater treatment plants on their national territory treating a load of 10 000 p.e. and above does not exceed the production of energy from renewable sources as defined in Article 2(1) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council44, by those urban wastewater treatment plants. That objective should be progressively met with interim targets by 31 December 2040. Reaching this energy neutrality target will contribute to reduce the avoidable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the sector by 46 %, while supporting the achievement of the 2050 climate neutrality objectives and related national and Union objectives, [such as the objectives set out in Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council45. Encouraging EU-based biogas or solar energy production while enhancing energy efficiency measures in line with the Energy Efficiency First principle46, which means taking utmost account of cost-efficient energy efficiency measures in shaping energy policy and making relevant investment decisions, will also help reduce the Union energy dependence, one of the objectives expressed in the Commission "Repower EU" Plan47. It is also in line with Directive (EU) 2018/844 of the European Parliament and of the Council48and with Directive (EU) 2018/2001 in which urban wastewater treatment sites are qualified as ‘go-to' areas for renewables, meaning a location designated as particularly suitable for the installation of plants for the production of energy from renewable sources. In order to reach the objective of energy neutrality via optimal measures for each urban wastewater treatment plant and for the collection system, Member States should ensure that energy audits are carried out in accordance with Article 8 of Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council49every four years. Except if demonstrated that the plants have reached their maximal energy efficiency in accordance with the article 11 or any stricter national targets, these audits should be accompanied by an action plan laying down a set of measures to be taken by the plants in order to reduce their energy consumption.Those audits should alsoinclude an identification of the potential for cost- effective use or production of renewable energy following the criteria set out in Annex VI to Directive 2012/27/EU. _________________ 44 Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 82). 45 Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 (OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26). 46 Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/1749 of 28 September 2021 on Energy Efficiency First: from principles to practice — Guidelines and examples for its implementation in decision-making in the energy sector and beyond 47 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: REPowerEU Plan (COM/2022/230 final). 48 Directive (EU) 2018/844 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings and Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 210). 49 Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC (OJ L 315, 14.11.2012, p. 1).
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) Additional monitoring is necessary to verify compliance with the new requirements concerning micro-pollutants, non-domestic pollution, energy neutrality, GHG emissions, including nitrous oxide, methane and storm water overflows and urban runoff. Such monitoring supports National Inventory Reporting, provides the necessary infrastructure to implement IPCC Guidelines for monitoring and enables the future development of action plans for science-based mitigation aligned with the Paris Agreement. To verify the performance of the quaternary treatment concerning the reduction of micro- pollutants in urban wastewater discharges, it is sufficient to monitor a limited set of representative micro-pollutants. The monitoring frequencies should be aligned to the current best practices, as currently practiced in Switzerland. To remain cost- effective, those obligations should be adapted to the size of the urban wastewater treatment plants and of the agglomerations. The monitoring will also contribute to provide data for the overall Environmental Monitoring Framework as set up under the 8th Environmental Action Programme63, and more specifically feed the Zero Pollution Monitoring Framework underpinning it64and support digital transition in the water sector in line with the EU’s Digital Strategy. _________________ 63 Decision (EU) 2022/591 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 April 2022 on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030 (OJ L 114, 12.4.2022, p. 22). 64 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All EU Action Plan: 'Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil' (COM/2021/400 final).
Amendment 206 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 30 a (new)
Recital 30 a (new)
(30a) Transition in the water sector will require diverse financing from private and public sources. Taking into consideration the European Commission impact assessment projections on financing the new requirements proposed in this Directive, additional financial support by the European Union in a comprehensive manner for all Member States will be required. The European Union is financing transition in many sectors, for example in the energy sector, hydrogen, chips and batteries manufacturing, EV charging infrastructure, etc. as strategic priorities for Europe. Water is essential to life and the sector underlies any economic activity including energy and renewables generation, food production, it is critical for any industrial and manufacturing activities. Hence, the water sector needs to be prioritized as a strategic sector.
Amendment 235 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Directive lays down rules on the collection, treatment, and discharge of urban wastewater , to protect the environment and human health while progressively eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and improving the energy balance of urban wastewater collection and treatment activities. It also lays down rules on access to sanitation, on transparency of the urban wastewater sector and on the regular surveillance of public health relevant parameters in urban wastewaters . It also introduces requirements for wastewater plants to transition to resource hubs, providing reclaimed water, energy, nutrients, and organic materials.
Amendment 322 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 19
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 19
(19) 'Producer Responsibility Organisation’ means an organisation established collectively byunder the supervision of Member States competent authorities with support of producers for the purpose of fulfilling their obligations under Article 9;
Amendment 355 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 24 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 24 a (new)
(24a) ‘direct greenhouse gas emission’ means emission that occurs from sources that are owned or controlled by the urban wastewater treatment plant and collecting systems and include process gas emission such as nitrous oxide and methane.
Amendment 361 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 24 b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 24 b (new)
(24b) `indirect greenhouse gas emission´ means emission from the generation of purchased electricity brought into the urban wastewater treatment plant and collection systems and its operation.
Amendment 381 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. By way of derogation of paragraphs 1 and 2, exceptions shall be provided to agglomerations where a clear trend of population decrease is shown, evidencing that population will not meet the thresholds of 1000 and 2000 by 2030.
Amendment 473 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. By 31 December 2025, Member States shall ensure an independent regular review of the load expressed in p.e. for each agglomeration. This review shall be carried out every five years and at the time the authorisation for discharges is issued. Member States shall ensure a sufficient data base for this review and a determination methodology corresponding to paragraph 4.
Amendment 650 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8 a (new)
Article8a By way of derogation from articles 6, 7 and 8, the competent authority may, in specific cases, set less strict treatment requirements. Such a derogation may apply only where an assessment shows that the achievement of the treatment levels indicated in articles 6, 7 and 8 would lead to disproportionately higher costs while producing no environmental benefits due to: (a) the geographical location or the local environmental conditions of the installation concerned or (b) the technical characteristics of the installation concerned. The competent authority shall document in an annex to the conditions for the permit the reasons for the application of the derogation including the result of the assessment and the justification for the conditions imposed.
Amendment 836 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States shall ensure that energy audits of urban wastewater treatment plants and collecting systems are carried out every four years. Unless demonstrated that the plants have reached their maximal energy efficiency in accordance with article 11 or any stricter national targets, these audits should be accompanied by an action plan laying down a set of measures to be taken by the plants in order to reduce their energy consumption. Those audits shall be carried out in accordance with Article 8 of Directive 2012/27/EU and include an identification of the potential for cost- effective use or production of renewable energy, with a particular focus to identify and utilise the potential for biogas production, while reducing methaneprocess gas emissions. The first audits shall be carried out:
Amendment 959 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall systematically promote the reuse of treated wastewater from all urban wastewater treatment plants. Where treated wastewater is reused for agricultural irrigation, it shall comply with the requirements established under Regulation (EU) 2020/741 , and may derogate to Article 7, paragraphs 1 to 4 to benefit from the agronomic value of the treated wastewater.
Amendment 1087 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 1
Article 20 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that sludge management routes are conform to the waste hierarchy provided formaximize prevention, re-use and recycling of resources, in Aparticle 4 of Directive 2008/98/EC. Such routes shall maximize prevention, re-ular through sludge valorization in agriculture to recover phosphoruse and nitrogen or recycling of resources andphosphorus from sewage sludge into quality products or raw materials for further applications, in order to minimize the adverse effects on the environment.
Amendment 1101 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 2
Article 20 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27 to supplement this Directive by setting out the minimum reuse and recycling rates for phosphorus and nitrogen from sludge and wastewater, in order to take into account available technologies for phosphorus and nitrogen recovery in sludge and wastewater.
Amendment 1114 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 21 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the direct and indirect greenhouse gase emissions produced by all operational activities of the urban wastewater treatment plant, and the energy used and produced by urban wastewater treatment plants and collecting systems of above 10 000 p.e.
Amendment 1151 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) by 31 December 2025, set up a data set containing information on all direct and indirect green house gas emissions from all operational activities with a breakdown between different gasses, including methane and nitrous oxide, emission sources, and on the total energy used and renewable energy produced by each urban wastewater treatment plant of 10 000 p.e. and above as well as a calculation of the percentage of achievement of the targets set out in Article 11(2) and update that data set annually thereafter;
Amendment 1200 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 24 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 24 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) information on the compliance of the collection and treatment of urban wastewater with Articles 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, including a comparison between the actual releases of pollutants in receiving waters with the limit values set out in Tables 1, 2 and 3 of Annex I; the aforementioned data shall take the form of a percentage of compliance;
Amendment 1294 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – Part D – point 1 – paragraph 3
Annex I – Part D – point 1 – paragraph 3
Member States shall provide the Commission with all relevant information concerning the applied monitoring method. When an alternative method is approved and fits for purpose in one EU country it must be published on the Commission website and can be used in other EU countries based on the principles of EU internal market.