Europe is undergoing a profound transformation in the way it manages water. Over the past decade, extreme droughts, increasing pressure on water resources and the need to safeguard long-term water security have pushed policymakers to update the legislative framework for wastewater treatment, water reuse and the control of emerging contaminants.

The result is a far more stringent regulatory environment—one that not only defines the quality requirements for reclaimed water but also drives systematic monitoring and mitigation of substances that, until recently, were outside the scope of routine control.

This short article by AIMPLAS looks at the the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive which covers treatments intended to remove microcontaminants, monitoring of emerging contaminants, and nutrient controls. It also describes what contaminants are posing a threat and why emerging contaminants matter.