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III. Directives Implementing the EU Environmental Policy
IV. Chart of the Directives and Enforcement Dates

Water Management

From 1995, the Community began to adopt a more global approach to water management. This has led to the framework directive for a policy on water which seeks to promote sustainable use of water resources and to ensure the coherence of policy in this area.

Find below the different areas of interest for your business:

1. Framework
2. Chemical Pollution of Surface Water
3. Urban Waste Water Treatment
4. Drinking Water

3. Urban Waste Water Treatment

Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste water treatment

Industrial waste water entering collecting systems, and the disposal of waste water and sludge from urban waste water treatment plants, are both subject to regulations and/or specific authorizations on the part of the competent authorities. The Directive lays down specific requirements for discharges from certain industrial sectors of biodegradable industrial waste water not entering urban waste water treatment plants before discharge to receiving waters. Member States will set up national programs for the implementation of this Directive and will present these to the Commission.

Directive 98/15/EEC amending directive 91/271/EEC

This Directive clarifies the rules relating to discharges from urban waste water treatment plants in order to put an end to differences in interpretation by the Member States. It specifies that:

• the option of using daily averages for the total nitrogen concentration applies both to agglomerations of 10 000-100 000 p.e. and to those of more than 100 000 p.e.;
• the condition concerning the temperature of the effluent in the biological reactor and the limitation on the time of operation to take account of regional climatic conditions only apply to the "alternative" method using daily averages;
• Use of the "alternative" method must ensure the same level of environmental protection as the annual mean technique.

Directive Code	Directive Name	Directive Date	Date of Enforcement
91/271/EEC	urban waste water treatment	21-May-1991	now - 2005
Amendement	Directive 98/15/EEC	27-Feb-1998	30-Sep-1998