Implementation of Directive 91/271/EEC on the Treatment of Urban Waste Water and the relevant national legislation on urban waste water, Preparation and implementation of the new National Implementation Programme (NIP) of the Directive 91/271/EEC on Urban Waste Water and submission of relevant reports (links to reports on Cyprus).

Relevant legislation for harmonisation purposes with the above Directive, The Control of Water Pollution Law (Discharge of Urban Waste Water), PI 772/2003.

Purpose of the Directive The purpose of Community Directive 91/271/EEC on the Treatment of Urban Waste Water is the protection of the water environment from the negative impact of the discharge of unprocessed urban waste water. Obligations of member States The main obligation of the member States concerns the installation of central sewage networks and waste water treatment plants in Communities and Municipalities (residential estates) with an equivalent population (e.p) (permanent, seasonal population and tourism) greater than 2000. Other obligations include the monitoring of the quality of processed water, the issue of permits and regulations for the discharge of processed water and sludge, the submission of three (3) reports to the European Commission (EC): a) the Implementation Programme (IP) of the Directive (section 17), b) the status Report every two (2) years (section 15) and c) the Report on the information of the public (Section 16). The deadlines set in the Directive For the first 15 member States the final deadline for the implementation of the Directive, as regards the installation of infrastructure for sewage systems has already expired in 2005. The new member States have transition deadlines determined separately in their Treaties of Accession. The transition period of Cyprus for rural residential estates (communities and municipalities) is 31st December 2012. However, there are also interim dates of compliance for urban residential estates (town and main tourist municipalities): 2008 as regards Limassol and Paralimni, 2009 as regards Nicosia, 2011 as regards Paphos and 2012 as regards Larnaca.

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