Key tools to accelerate fulfilment of the EU urban waste water treatment directive in the Flemish region of Belgium

The EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) has been transposed in 1992. The whole area of the Flemish region was designated as a sensitive area. This implies nutrient removal for all works in agglomerations of more than 10,000 population equivalent (PE). Thanks to an accelerated investment programme, which is in a final phase now, the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) will fulfil treatment in 2005. Key tools for a quick and economic execution of the programme are standardisation for new WWTP's and increasing computerisation for retrofitting existing WWTPs. The UWWTD also stipulates the reuse of treated wastewater and sludge. Strategies are explained.