Brussels, 09/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - A further step has been taken on the infringement procedure against Spain which, despite several reminders, has still failed to comply with the European directive on the treatment of urban waste water (directive 91/271/EEC). On Thursday 8 October, the European Commission said it was sending the Spanish authorities a final warning (a reasoned opinion, under the terms of Article 228 of the Treaty) for failing to implement the 2007 Court of Justice ruling on the treatment of waste water in the area of Playa de la Motilla in the Valencia region. Should Spain fail to take the necessary steps to remedy the situation the Commission may again bring it before the European Court of Justice and request that fines be imposed on Spain proportionate to the seriousness and duration of the infringement.
“Untreated urban waste water is a threat to European citizens and detrimental to the quality of Europe's rivers, lakes and coastal waters. I urge Spain to clean up its act swiftly,” said EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas in a press release.
Under the terms of directive 91/271/EEC, urban areas with more than 10,000 inhabitants must have adequate collection and treatment systems. The Court ruling states that Spain failed in its obligation to appropriately treat the waste water from the cities of Sueca, Benifaió, Sollana, Almussafes and other coastal towns discharged into a sensitive area, the Frente coastline of the Albufera Nature Park, located close to Motilla Beach. According to information received from Spain by the Commission, there are important delays and gaps in the measures necessary to carry out the appropriate collection and treatment of waste water and the agenda for the works remains unclear, the Commission says. Biological or “secondary” treatment - the main type of waste water treatment envisaged by the directive - should have been operational by 31 December 2000. “Tertiary” treatment - a stricter treatment required if waste water is discharged into “sensitive” water bodies - should have been in place ten years ago (by 31 December 1998). (A.N./transl.rt)