France urged to comply with EU urban wastewater treatment rules

The European Commission (EC) starts an infringement procedure against France. According to an analysis of the latest data reported by France, 518 agglomerations do not comply with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. In four agglomerations, only a small share of urban wastewater is collected, and the uncollected urban wastewater is discharged into sensitive areas. In 416 agglomerations, France fails to ensure that collected urban wastewater is subject to secondary treatment before being discharged. In 98 agglomerations phosphorus and/or nitrogen is not removed before the wastewater is being discharged into sensitive areas

The European Commission decided to open an infringement procedure by sending a letter of formal notice in July to France for failing to comply with the requirements of the UWWTD. France now has two months to respond and address the shortcomings raised by the European Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the European Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.

EU water laws

Effective treatment of urban wastewater contributes to the objectives of the Water Resilience Strategy. Untreated wastewater can put human health at risk and pollutes lakes, rivers, soil and coastal waters and groundwater, including drinking water collection areas. Therefore, the UWWTD requires that Member States collect and treat their urban wastewater for all agglomerations of 2,000 people or more before it is discharged into the environment.

Repeated non-compliance

It is not the first time France has been found in breach of EU wastewater treatment rules. In 2021 the European Commission referred France to the Court of Justice for failure to comply with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The Directive requires Member States to ensure that urban agglomerations (towns, cities, settlements) properly collect and treat their waste waters, thus eliminating or reducing all their undesirable effects.