Spain commits to spend more than 24 billion in adhering to the 'Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive'

The Spanish Urban Water Association (DAQUAS) has published a positioning document, highlighting the importance of implementing the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWTD) and the challenges that lie ahead. The Association, which represents over 80% of the operators of the urban water cycle in Spain, is ready to contribute to the design of a national strategy.

According to DAQUAS, the implementation of the UWTD will not be easy or cheap. The EU Directive aims to improve water quality, protect the environment, advance towards climate neutrality, and combat global warming and water pollution. However, Spain is lagging behind in wastewater treatment, with numerous urban nuclei struggling to meet the requirements of the 1991 EU Directive 91/271/CEE on the treatment of urban wastewater.

The regulation seeks to preserve water resources in Europe and meet climate commitments, through the application of advanced technologies and modernization of infrastructures. To ensure the effective implementation of the UWTD, DAQUAS considers it essential to design a national application program. This program should assign responsibilities, prioritise actions, and ensure the necessary resources.

The Association insists that tariffs must reflect the real costs of the service, including operation, maintenance, replacement, and infrastructure financing, to ensure the economic viability of the system. DAQUAS is also calling for transparency, technical rigour, and alignment with the deadlines set by the Directive in the design of this national program.

The implementation of the UWTD will require significant investments, estimated to be more than 24.5 billion euros in Spain in the coming years. However, the public institution in Spain that has published estimates on how much money is required to implement the EU directive on urban water treatment is not explicitly named in the provided search results.

DAQUAS emphasizes that if the structural investment deficit is not corrected, the risk of repeating past mistakes is high. The Association's objective is to advance towards a modern, efficient, and adapted management model to the new climatic and regulatory reality.

The UWTD includes tertiary and quaternary treatments, energy efficiency requirements, and microcontaminant control. The Association believes that the implementation of the UWTD can be a turning point for urban sanitation in Spain, but political leadership, institutional cooperation, and a shared vision of water as a public and strategic good are necessary.

In conclusion, the implementation of the UWTD presents both challenges and opportunities for Spain. With the support of DAQUAS, the country can move towards a more sustainable and efficient urban wastewater management system, preserving water resources and meeting climate commitments.