Stricter rules for them pollutants atmospheric air, surface and ground water, as well as for the treatment of urban wastewater, offered today European Commission.

Today’s proposals are part of the European Green Deal, which has an ambitious goal of zero pollution by 2050. With regard to air and water, the Commission proposes, on the one hand, to tighten the permissible levels of pollutants, and on the other hand, to improve implementation so that pollution reduction targets are more often achieved in practice.

The Commission notes that air pollution is responsible for nearly 300,000 premature deaths in Europe each year. The proposed new regulations would reduce by more than 75% mortality associated with the level of the main pollutant 2.5 PM over a decade, which exceeds the values ​​set in the recommendations of the World Health Organization. The Commission proposes to more than halve the annual limit value for the main pollutant, fine particulate matter (2.5 PM). Today’s proposal is estimated by the Commission to contribute to a significant improvement in Europe’s air quality by 2030, resulting in gross annual benefits of between €42 billion and €121 billion in 2030, at a cost of less than €6 billion per person. year.

With regard to the protection of surface and groundwater from new pollutants, the Commission proposes to update the lists of water pollutants subject to stricter control in surface and groundwater.

25 substances with well-documented problematic effects on nature and human health will be added to the lists. These include: a large group of PFAS “timeless chemicals” used in, among others, kitchen utensils, clothing and furniture, firefighting foam and personal care products, a number of pesticides and pesticide degraders such as glyphosate, bisphenol A, a plasticizer and an ingredient in plastic packaging, as well as some pharmaceuticals used as painkillers and anti-inflammatories, as well as antibiotics.

Finally, for better and more cost-effective urban wastewater treatment, the Commission proposes extending water treatment obligations to smaller municipalities with a population of 1,000 (up from the current 2,000 inhabitants). In addition, based on the experience of the Covid-19 disease, the Commission recommends systematic monitoring of wastewater for the presence of various viruses, including CoV-SARS-19, and antimicrobial resistance.

The Commission’s proposals will be considered by the European Parliament and the Council in the normal legislative procedure. Once approved, they will be phased in with different targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050, giving industry and authorities time to adapt and invest as needed.

Source: RES-IPE