Role of waste-water treatment plants in the eutrophication of surface waters

2.5.2018

Question for written answer E-002445-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Martin Häusling (Verts/ALE)

1. Is the Commission aware of emissions modelling (for example in the Federal State of Hessen in Germany) that factors in the bioavailability of phosphate when calculating the eutrophication of surface waters?2. Does the Commission know that high concentrations of phosphate are very often attributable to discharges from municipal waste-water treatment plants and less so to agricultural discharges, despite the findings of earlier studies, especially those using the MONERIS (Modelling Nutrient Emissions in River Systems) model?3. Does the Commission have EU-wide data on the various types of phosphate input, broken down by source (i.e. agriculture, municipal waste-water treatment and other) and, if so, can it make these data available?