KARL: Current status of financing fourth treatment through extended producer responsibility

The EU Urban Wastewater Directive presents the wastewater sector with enormous challenges: many wastewater treatment plants will need to be upgraded with a fourth treatment stage to remove micro-pollutants. At least 80% of the costs for expansion and operation must be covered by manufacturers of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products – a paradigm shift in financing. For the first time, a viable compromise is being implemented between the polluter-pays principle and the interests of fee payers. The VKU has proactively published a study that provides a well-founded forecast of the expected costs of quaternary treatment in Germany. However, despite the directive coming into force in early 2025, many questions remain unanswered. To ensure timely expansion in line with the KARL requirements, municipal wastewater utilities need reliable framework conditions. This presentation offers an overview of the current status, VKU’s cost estimates, the lines of conflict in implementation, and a forward-looking perspective.