Press Release: Environment: Italy in Court over urban waste water treatment failings

The European Commission has taken Italy to court for its failure to ensure that waste water from agglomerations with more than 10,000 inhabitants that discharge into sensitive areas is properly treated.

The lack of adequate collection and treatment systems, required by EU legislation since 1998, poses risks to human health and to inland waters and the marine environment.

Despite good progress since a reasoned opinion on this matter in 2011, the significant shortcomings that remain led the Commission, on the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, to refer the case to the EU Court of Justice.