Commission decides further legal steps against Italy for non-respect of Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

The European Commission has decided to send a Reasoned Opinion to Italy for non-respect of the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive at Milan. One of the EU's largest cities, Milan (population 2,700,000) still discharges its untreated waste water into the Lambro-Olona river, a tributary of the river Po. This significantly contributes to the pollution of the Po, and the Adriatic coast, which suffers from eutrophication. In the Commission's view, the Directive required the city to install proper treatment by end of 1998. While three treatment plants are under construction (Milano Sud, Peschiera Borromeo and Nosedo), these are only due for completion between 2002 and 2005, which is significantly later than the deadline.

Untreated or inadequately treated urban waste water is one of the chief forms of water pollution in the EU. The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (Council Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste water treatment) addresses this pollution by requiring that cities, towns and other population centres meet minimum waste water collection and treatment standards by deadlines stipulated in the directive (these deadlines expire at the end of 1998, 2000 and 2005 depending on the sensitivity of the receiving water and size of the population centre). The Directive is thereby intended to play a crucial role in improving the Community's water quality.

Commenting on the decision, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom said: "I find it very disappointing that, in such a sensitive river catchment as that of the Po, Milan should still be without adequate waste water treatment. As one of the EU's premier cities, it is setting a very poor example." The Commissioner stressed her commitment to vigorously pursuing full and correct implementation of this key water directive.