Today, the European Commission decided to refer Spain (INFR(2012)2100) to the Court of Justice of the European Union for its failure to fully comply with the collection and treatment obligations set in the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (Directive 91/271/EEC). The Directive aims to protect people's health and the environment by requiring that urban waste water is collected and treated before discharge into the environment. Untreated waste water can put human health at risk and pollute lakes, rivers, soil, and coastal and groundwater. (Source: European Commission)