Spain is under scrutiny by European justice for shortcomings in the sanitation networks of 133 urban agglomerations. The European Commission has decided to bring Spain before the Court of Justice of the European Union, citing widespread non-compliance with the urban wastewater directive. This rule is designed to protect the environment from polluted water stemming from domestic and industrial sources.
While progress has been noted, the commission emphasizes that all agglomerations must have sewer collection systems or, where justified, standalone setups or other suitable solutions such as septic systems that deliver equivalent environmental protection. The EC calls for stronger efforts to ensure that the collected wastewater undergoes proper treatment in line with current European standards.
In practical terms, this means that infrastructure work may be required—new facilities might be built, or existing treatment plants upgraded to meet the directive’s demands. The Community Manager sent a formal letter in December 2016 and a reasoned opinion in February 2020 urging Spain to fully comply with the municipal wastewater directive.
The European Green Deal envisions a zero-pollution ambition that benefits public health, environment, and climate neutrality, reinforcing Europe’s resilience. EU law, including the urban wastewater treatment directive, aims to safeguard human health and protect natural ecosystems, and member states are expected to implement it comprehensively.
Directive approved in 1991
The Urban Wastewater Directive, adopted in 1991, requires member states to take the necessary steps to ensure that urban wastewater is adequately treated before discharge. In Spain, 133 towns reportedly lack complete treatment coverage.
In summary, the directive lays out two clear obligations. First, urban agglomerations must have collector systems to gather and transport wastewater, depending on local conditions. Second, various treatment processes must be applied to wastewater before it is discharged into land or sea waters.
The characteristics of the area where wastewater is produced help determine the level of treatment required before discharge. Treatments are adjusted based on whether areas are classified as sensitive, less sensitive, or normal, with more stringent standards in sensitive zones.
The Spanish government has identified 90 vulnerable areas across the country, mostly rivers and reservoirs, with an additional 46 sensitive zones declared by autonomous communities, many located near beaches.
The sensitive areas noted by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge include the Torrevieja and La Mata lagoons, Tablas de Daimiel, Lagunas de Ruidera, Grazalema and Cazorla natural parks, and Doñana National Park along with its surroundings.
Among areas declared sensitive by autonomous communities are notable sites like the Ibiza, Palma and Benicàssim bays, the Pontevedra estuary, coastal fronts within Prat de Cabanes, Albufera, Montgó, Penyal d’Ifac, and Salinas de Santa Pola, as well as Santoña marshes and natural parks such as Oyambre, Bahía de Cádiz, and Marismas de Odiel, including the Mar Menor.
For those seeking more technical guidance, the Urban Wastewater Directive Guide is available as a reference document (citation: Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico, 1991–2024). It provides detailed explanations of the directive’s scope, requirements, and case studies related to urban wastewater management.