Council Directive of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste water treatment (91/271/EEC)

Article 6U.K.

1.For the purposes of paragraph 2, Member States may by 31 December 1993 identify less sensitive areas according to the criteria laid down in Annex II.

2.Urban waste water discharges from agglomerations of between 10 000 and 150 000 p.e. to coastal waters and those from agglomaterions of between 2 000 and 10 000 p.e. to estuaries situated in areas described in paragraph 1 may be subjected to treatment less stringent than that prescribed in Article 4 providing that:

  • such discharges receive at least primary treatment as defined in Article 2 (7) in conformity with the control procedures laid down in Annex I D,

  • comprehensive studies indicate that such discharges will not adversely affect the environment.

Member States shall provide the Commission with all relevant information concerning the abovementioned studies.

3.If the Commission considers that the conditions set out in paragraph 2 are not met, it shall submit to the Council an appropriate proposal.

4.Member States shall ensure that the identification of less sensitive areas is reviewed at intervals of not more than four years.

5.Member States shall ensure that areas no longer identified as less sensitive shall within seven years meet the requirements of Articles 4 and 5 as appropriate.