The Spanish Association for Standardisation (UNE), and the Spanish Association for Urban Water (DAQUAS), held a conference on June 4 in Valencia on standard UNE 149401, “Guidelines for drafting a wastewater discharge ordinance or regulation for sanitation systems”. The objective of this event was to delve deeper into the practical application of the UNE Standard, which establishes guidelines for the proper drafting of ordinances regulating urban discharges into the sanitation system.
The event promoted a space for dialogue between public administrations, specialised technicians and other stakeholders involved in sustainable water management, to facilitate the adoption of a consistent and effective regulatory framework.
Rafael Postigo, Project Manager for Industry and Equipment Standardisation at UNE, opened the session with a brief introduction to the standardisation system, laying the groundwork for understanding the regulatory framework. Next, María Eugenia Díaz, secretary of SC 4 on Wastewater Treatment of CTN-UNE 149 and Director of Sectoral Strategy at SERCOBE explained the development of the working group responsible for this standard, providing both sectoral and strategic insight. Fernando del Amo, president of CTN-UNE 149 and Head of the Technical Knowledge Management and Environment Area at Aqualia, explained the motivations and key concept of the standard, highlighting its relevance for technical and environmental management.
In addition, practical and legal aspects essential to the effective implementation of the standard were addressed. Lucía de Moura, a member of CTN-UNE 149 and a lawyer, highlighted the importance of local ordinances in controlling discharges from a legal perspective. Francisco Escribano, a member of CTN-UNE 149 and Head of the Industrial Discharge Department at EPSAR, delved into the control of discharges in the Valencian Community, in addition to addressing issues related to the authorisation and supervision of discharges. Finally, Miguel Ángel Doval, a member of CTN-UNE 149 and Head of Discharge Inspection at EMASESA, addressed accidental discharges and the annexes included in the standard, concluding with a key perspective on incident management and prevention in sanitation networks.
In the field of sanitation networks, where proper waste management is key to avoiding environmental impacts and ensuring the proper functioning of infrastructure, standardisation is essential. UNE standards provide clear criteria that facilitate coordination between administrations, technicians and operators, improving efficiency and contributing to more sustainable and safer management of the sanitation system.
