INFORMAL BACKGROUND DOCUMENT TO THE COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 'TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE EUROPEAN UNION' 4th Commission Report on Implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive: Status of Implementation in each Member State January 2007 Disclaimer: This document has been developed by a consultant for the European Commission, DG Environment. In general, it reflects reports by Member States as per 1 January 2003, with consultation of Member States on relevant parts of the document during March and April 2004. Last updates were done in December 2006 and January 2007. This document does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Commission or of any Member State. Brussels, January, 2007. TABLE OF CONTENTS Background ................................................................................................................................ 7 1. Implementation Status in each Member State.............................................................. 9 1.1. Belgium........................................................................................................................ 9 1.1.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................... 9 1.1.2. Sensitive areas.............................................................................................................. 9 1.1.3. Waste water treatment in big cities .............................................................................. 9 1.2. Denmark..................................................................................................................... 11 1.2.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................. 11 1.2.2. Sensitive areas............................................................................................................ 11 1.2.3. Waste water treatment in big cities ............................................................................ 11 1.3. Germany..................................................................................................................... 13 1.3.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................. 13 1.3.2. Sensitive areas............................................................................................................ 13 1.3.3. Agglomerations reported as discharging into normal areas....................................... 14 1.3.4. Waste water treatment in big cities ............................................................................ 16 1.4. Greece ........................................................................................................................ 19 1.4.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................. 19 1.4.2. Sensitive areas............................................................................................................ 19 1.4.3. Agglomerations reported as discharging into normal areas....................................... 20 1.4.4. Waste water treatment in big cities ............................................................................ 25 1.5. Spain........................................................................................................................... 27 1.5.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................. 27 1.5.2. Sensitive areas............................................................................................................ 27 1.5.3. Agglomerations discharging into sensitive areas....................................................... 29 1.5.4. Agglomerations reported as discharging into normal areas....................................... 31 1.5.5. Updated information from Spain on self-compliance-check results for agglomerations reported as discharging into normal areas (data reported in April 2004) .......................................................................................................................... 36 1.5.6. Waste water treatment in big cities ............................................................................ 38 3 1.6. France......................................................................................................................... 41 1.6.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................. 41 1.6.2. Sensitive areas............................................................................................................ 41 1.6.3. Agglomerations reported as discharging into normal areas....................................... 42 1.6.4. Updated information from France on self compliance-check results for agglomerations reported as discharging into normal areas (data reported in May 2004) .......................................................................................................................... 47 1.6.5. Waste water treatment in big cities ............................................................................ 49 1.7. Ireland ........................................................................................................................ 53 1.7.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................. 53 1.7.2. Sensitive areas............................................................................................................ 53 1.7.3. Agglomerations reported as discharging into normal areas....................................... 54 1.7.4. Waste water treatment in big cities ............................................................................ 58 1.8. Italy ............................................................................................................................ 61 1.8.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................. 61 1.8.2. Sensitive areas............................................................................................................ 61 1.8.3. Agglomerations reported as discharging into normal areas....................................... 63 1.8.4. Waste water treatment in big cities ............................................................................ 76 1.9. Luxembourg ............................................................................................................... 81 1.9.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................. 81 1.9.2. Sensitive areas............................................................................................................ 81 1.9.3. Waste water treatment in big cities ............................................................................ 82 1.10. The Netherlands......................................................................................................... 83 1.10.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................. 83 1.10.2. Sensitive areas............................................................................................................ 83 1.10.3. Waste water treatment in big cities ............................................................................ 83 1.11. Austria........................................................................................................................ 85 1.11.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................. 85 1.11.2. Sensitive areas............................................................................................................ 85 1.11.3. Agglomerations reported as discharging into normal areas....................................... 86 4 1.11.4. Waste water treatment in big cities ............................................................................ 88 1.12. Portugal ...................................................................................................................... 89 1.12.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................. 89 1.12.2. Sensitive areas............................................................................................................ 89 1.12.3. Less sensitive areas .................................................................................................... 90 1.12.4. Agglomerations reported as discharging into normal areas or less sensitive areas ... 90 1.12.5. Waste water treatment in big cities ............................................................................ 96 1.13. Finland ....................................................................................................................... 99 1.13.1. General comments on data quality............................................................................. 99 1.13.2. Sensitive areas............................................................................................................ 99 1.13.3. Waste water treatment in big cities .......................................................................... 100 1.14. Sweden ..................................................................................................................... 101 1.14.1. General comments on data quality..........................................................................