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APPENDIX XII
Appendix XII Connection to Sweage Treatment Plants in Europe
Default STP Connection Rate
Marked improvements in overall EU wastewater collection (+22% relative to 1992) and
treatment (+69% relative to 1992) will follow full implementation of the Urban Waste Water
Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) in 2005 (see Figure 1). Even before 2005, a provisional
figure is indicated for interim use as substantial increases in wastewater collection (+12%) and
treatment (+40%) capacity have already been reported from across the EU. Projected wastewater
treatment capacity in the EU as a whole for 2000 is greater than baseline organic loadings (i.e.,
106%), although this is not uniformly distributed throughout the EU. An interim figure of 80%
connection to wastewater treatment is therefore proposed for the generic region. A figure of 90 -
95% is also proposed for use following full implementation of the UWWTD. This coincides with
the likely ultimate degree of connection and treatment capacity for urban regions of the EU.
Figure 1. - Development in Collection and Treatment Capacity EU14 (Source: EC, 1999) 10 .
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1,000 p.e.
500,000
450,000
400,000
350,000
300,000
250,000
Collection
Treatment
1992 Baseline Load
200,000
1992 1995 1998
Year
2000 2005
p.e. = person equivalent
Historical Data
Data on the proportion of the total population connected to wastewater treatment in individual
MS in the period 1970-95 are presented in Table 1. The population weighted average for the
whole of the EU15 in 1995 was 73%. Although the apparent degree of connection to wastewater
treatment is low in some countries, its absence does not necessarily always imply inadequate
treatment or direct discharge. For example, the proportion of the population with individual
arrangements such as septic tanks has been reported as 24% inGreece, 23% in France, 22% in
Finland, 12% in Portugal, 7% in Germany, 6% in Italy, 2.5% in the UK, 1.5% in the
Netherlands, 1% in Spain and 0.5% in Luxembourg (EWWG, 1997)
10 European Commission (1999). Implementation of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning
urban waste water treatment as amended by Commission Directive 98/15/EC of 27 February 1998. Summary of
the measures implemented by the member states and assessment of the information received pursuant to Article
17 and 13 of the directive. Available on European Union (EU) web-site at http://www.europa.eu.int/water/waterurbanwaste/report/report.html.