National programme launched to assess the impact of wastewater on surface water
National programme launched to assess the impact of wastewater on surface water
Substances from industry and households pass through wastewater treatment plants and end up in our surface water. With the impending deadline for compliance with the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) in 2027, the government wishes to clarify the impact of wastewater treatment on water quality targets.
To achieve this, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has developed an ambitious programme to analyse the effects of all (more than 300) wastewater treatment plants on surface water over the coming year by means of emissions analyses.
Process management and quality assurance by AT Osborne and Witteveen+Bos
AT Osborne and Witteveen+Bos have been commissioned to manage this process, which is an ideal role for this strong combination. They are well acquainted with the water authorities, the ministry and Rijkswaterstaat. AT Osborne specialises in managing complex, politically sensitive processes, while Witteveen+Bos has the technical expertise to support the parties responsible for the actual analyses and to ensure that high-quality, uniform results are delivered.
Two-phase approach
The programme will consist of two phases. Before the summer, a handbook for the implementation of the emissions analyses will be developed further and improved. With this approach, the combination will ensure that the wastewater treatment analyses are carried out uniformly.
This handbook will first be tested for a small group of pilot water authorities. The lessons and results from this initial phase may lead to adjustments in the second phase, in which emissions analyses will be carried out for all remaining wastewater treatment plants. Our consortia will assess these analyses. The final report is expected to be published in March 2027.
NOTE TO EDITORS (NOT FOR PUBLICATION) For more information, please contact Monique Reijntjes, marketing and communications adviser AT Osborne at monique.reijntjes@atosborne.nl or on 06 – 44 65 11 16.
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