The presentation will focus on the main elements included in the recently adopted revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and notably the new requirements aiming at:

• improving water quality by addressing remaining urban wastewater pollution from individual systems, small agglomerations below 2000 pe, stormwater overflows and urban runoff, new standards on micro pollutants and reinforced standards on Nitrogen and Phosphorus;

• applying the polluters pays principle for the additional treatment needed to treat micropollutants;

• moving towards energy neutrality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions;

• improving access to sanitation especially for the most vulnerable and marginalised people;

• requiring EU countries to monitor health relevant parameters in wastewater;

• improving circularity of the sector;

• improving the governance and the transparency in the sector.

The main results of the impact assessment as well as a summary of the next steps will also be presented