Conference
The challenges of the chemical-pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry in light of the new urban wastewater regulations
Thursday 04, 15:30h - 18:30h
| Press Area: level -1
Pre-registration for the congress
2026-06-04 15:30
2026-06-04 18:30
Europe/Madrid
The challenges of the chemical-pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry in light of the new urban wastewater regulations
The approval of Directive (EU) 2024/3019 on Urban Wastewater Treatment (UWWT) marks a turning point in European water quality policy and in the regulation of pollutants present in the urban water cycle.
The new regulation introduces more stringent requirements regarding so-called emerging contaminants, many of which are linked to sectors such as the chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. Its transposition into the legal frameworks of Member States, scheduled before July 2027, will entail the progressive implementation of advanced treatments (tertiary and quaternary), as well as the strengthening of aspects such as energy efficiency, health surveillance, and analytical control.
This new framework poses significant technical, regulatory, and economic challenges. On the one hand, urban water cycle operators will need to adapt their infrastructure and processes; on the other, the industry faces a scenario in which the principle of extended producer responsibility gains importance, opening a debate on the distribution of costs and responsibilities.
At the same time, relevant uncertainties remain regarding the interpretation of the regulation, its practical application, and the most appropriate management models.
In this context, ADECAGUA is organizing, within the framework of Expoquimia 2026, a technical workshop aimed at providing clarity on the main elements of the new Directive, analyzing its implications for the chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics sectors, addressing associated analytical, technological, and management challenges, and fostering dialogue among public administration, the scientific community, water operators, and industry.
The workshop is addressed to:
• Environmental and sustainability managers in industry
• Urban water cycle operators
• Engineering firms and technology companies
• Public administrations
• Professionals in the water sector and environmental regulation
Press Area: level -1
The approval of Directive (EU) 2024/3019 on Urban Wastewater Treatment (UWWT) marks a turning point in European water quality policy and in the regulation of pollutants present in the urban water cycle.
The new regulation introduces more stringent requirements regarding so-called emerging contaminants, many of which are linked to sectors such as the chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. Its transposition into the legal frameworks of Member States, scheduled before July 2027, will entail the progressive implementation of advanced treatments (tertiary and quaternary), as well as the strengthening of aspects such as energy efficiency, health surveillance, and analytical control.
This new framework poses significant technical, regulatory, and economic challenges. On the one hand, urban water cycle operators will need to adapt their infrastructure and processes; on the other, the industry faces a scenario in which the principle of extended producer responsibility gains importance, opening a debate on the distribution of costs and responsibilities.
At the same time, relevant uncertainties remain regarding the interpretation of the regulation, its practical application, and the most appropriate management models.
In this context, ADECAGUA is organizing, within the framework of Expoquimia 2026, a technical workshop aimed at providing clarity on the main elements of the new Directive, analyzing its implications for the chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics sectors, addressing associated analytical, technological, and management challenges, and fostering dialogue among public administration, the scientific community, water operators, and industry.
The workshop is addressed to:
• Environmental and sustainability managers in industry
• Urban water cycle operators
• Engineering firms and technology companies
• Public administrations
• Professionals in the water sector and environmental regulation
Subsessions
- Institutional opening and key highlights of the session Thursday 04, 15:30h - 15:45h | Press Area: level -1 Pre-registration for the congress
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the new Urban Wastewater Directive Thursday 04, 15:45h - 16:15h | Press Area: level -1 Pre-registration for the congress
- Analytical challenges of the new regulation in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics sectors Thursday 04, 16:15h - 16:45h | Press Area: level -1 Pre-registration for the congress
- Management of emerging contaminants in industrial effluents Thursday 04, 16:45h - 17:15h | Press Area: level -1 Pre-registration for the congress
- Treatment of emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment systems Thursday 04, 17:30h - 18:00h | Press Area: level -1 Pre-registration for the congress
- Round table and debate Thursday 04, 18:00h - 18:30h | Press Area: level -1 Pre-registration for the congress
Organizers
ADECAGUA