19/08/2026
Wastewater treatment plants are set for major changes in the years ahead.
The new European Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive will gradually introduce more stringent requirements not only for effluent quality, but also for energy efficiency, micropollutant removal and the recovery of resources that are still too often treated simply as waste.
The future of wastewater treatment plants will not be about installing solar panels or a combined heat and power unit alone.
It will be about finding answers to key questions:
In our view, every modernisation project should start with data.
A comprehensive energy balance, reliable monitoring and measurement systems, and mathematical modelling make it possible to evaluate different options before implementation and identify solutions that are both technically sound and economically viable.
We have taken a closer look on our website at what the new European directive means for wastewater treatment plants and how operators can start preparing for its requirements today.
Read the full article here:
Proposed New Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive – PDF
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for wastewater treatment plant operators in the years ahead — energy neutrality, micropollutants, or resource recovery?
