NURSECOAST-II commenting on the EU Commission’s European Climate Resilience and Risk Management Integrated Framework

Below is the conclusion of NURSECOAST-II’s contributions, compiled by Virpi Vorne from Luke.

Based on NURSECOAST‑II evidence from Baltic Sea coastal tourist regions, we recommend that the new framework explicitly address seasonally increasing tourism‑related wastewater loads and the structural vulnerability of small wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as part of EU climate‑risk management and critical‑infrastructure resilience. The framework should be closely aligned with EU water‑resilience policies and recent wastewater legislation to reduce environmental and health risks and steer investments to where they are most needed.

• Include seasonal variation in EU climate‑risk assessments

Coastal WWTPs experience seasonal load peaks during tourism high season. Many small plants are designed for low‑season conditions, which undermines treatment efficiency and increases the risk of nutrient discharges and nuisance during summer. The framework should require Member States to explicitly model seasonal variation as part of climate and critical‑infrastructure risk assessments, particularly in coastal municipalities.

2) Give small WWTPs a distinct place in resilience policy

Small plants, often <2,000 PE, form a substantial share of coastal treatment capacity, yet their seasonal vulnerability is masked by national averages. The framework should recognise small WWTPs as a distinct risk category and guide Member States to set minimum preparedness/resilience criteria (e.g., storage, bypass and incident protocols, backup power, flood protection).

3) Scale up innovative and nature‑based solutions

NURSECOAST‑II pilots demonstrate practical options for peak‑load management, constructed wetlands, nano‑bubble aeration, beneficial effluent reuse, and nature-based buffer systems, suited to small or decentralised systems and offering cost‑effective resilience gains. Given that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (heavy rainfall, stormwater influxes, heat-induced microbial variations), the framework should promote the adoption of hybrid, multi‑stage treatment configurations for small WWTPs. These systems combine conventional mechanical‑biological treatment with post‑treatment nature‑based solutions (NBS), such as constructed wetlands and filtration fields, to buffer hydraulic shocks and maintain high treatment performance before discharging into coastal waters. The framework should prioritise investment support for such solutions in tourist hotspots and integrate them with EU water‑resilience actions.

4) Harmonised seasonal data collection and reporting

The project has compiled extensive datasets, GIS mapping of WWTPs in tourist regions, and operator surveys. We propose that the framework require harmonised EU‑wide seasonal load and capacity reporting (e.g., BOD/COD, N, P, flows, bypass events, overload hours) to enable risk‑based planning and targeted funding.

5) Stronger linkage to EU water policies and recent legislation

We ask the Commission to align the framework with the European Water Resilience Strategy (modernisation, water reuse, contaminant control) and with the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (e.g., fourth treatment stage for micropollutants, extended producer responsibility, nutrient recycling), ensuring coherent goals and funding tools for the wastewater sector.

6) Target investments to seasonal hotspots

Introduce an investment prioritisation criterion based on seasonal overload risk to steer EU funds to small‑plant upgrades and additional capacity in tourist areas.

7) Integrating the 5R principle (reduce, recycle, reuse, restore, recover)

The framework should incorporate the 5R approach (reduce, recycle, reuse, restore, recover) to promote a full value-chain water management strategy, especially in tourist regions subject to significant seasonal pressure. The 5R approach aligns with EU water-resilience, circular-economy and climate-adaptation policies, helps reduce load peaks, increase reuse, support nature-based solutions and enhance the resilience of small WWTPs.

Conclusion:

Seasonally increasing tourism‑related wastewater loads are a tangible climate‑risk multiplier along Europe’s coasts. We urge the Commission to ensure that the new framework recognises this risk and directs Member States to strengthen small WWTP resilience according to the 5R principle (reduce, recycle, reuse, restore, recover), supported by robust data, appropriate combined technologies, nature‑based solutions and targeted finance, in full synergy with EU water‑resilience policy.

Programme Manual Online

Choose