EWC Code
Wastes from the preparation of water intended for human consumption or water for industrial use
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
4 million tonnes/year EU water treatment residues
Valorisation Range
€180M water treatment sludge and media market
Primary Route
Agricultural land application (WTW sludge)
Need verified buyer contacts with location-specific pricing?
Get contacts for EWC 19 09EWC 19 09 covers wastes from the preparation of drinking water and industrial process water. Sub-entries: 19 09 01 (solid wastes from primary filtration and screenings), 19 09 02 (sludges from water clarification), 19 09 03 (sludges from decarbonation), 19 09 04 (spent activated carbon), 19 09 05 (saturated or spent ion exchange resins), 19 09 06 (solutions and sludges from regeneration of ion exchangers) and 19 09 99 (wastes not otherwise specified).
Water treatment sludges (19 09 02) from drinking water works are predominantly aluminium or iron hydroxide coagulant sludges from clarification of surface water. Composition reflects raw water quality — upland reservoirs produce low-metal sludges suitable for agricultural application or construction fill; groundwater treatment produces manganite and iron sludges. Heavy metal contamination of source water is reflected in sludge quality.
Spent ion exchange resins (19 09 05) from water softening and demineralisation contain concentrated calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride and sulphate from regeneration. Resins from condensate polishing in power plants may concentrate radioactive isotopes (Cs-137, Sr-90) and require radiological assessment before disposal. Spent activated carbon (19 09 04) from granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration may be regenerated thermally at specialist facilities.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 19 09, ranked by economic value and market depth. Agricultural land application (WTW sludge) is the primary route.
Dewatered aluminium hydroxide water treatment sludge (19 09 02) from clean surface water sources applied to agricultural land as soil conditioner and pH buffer. Must meet heavy metal limit values equivalent to sewage sludge standards under national provisions in absence of EU-specific regulation.
Spent granular activated carbon (19 09 04) thermally regenerated at temperatures 800–950°C in rotary kilns. Reactivated GAC returns to service; typically 5–10% mass loss per regeneration cycle. Regeneration reduces virgin activated carbon demand and disposal costs significantly.
Water treatment sludges not suitable for land application dewatered by belt press, centrifuge or filter press and disposed at non-hazardous landfill. Alum sludge from contaminated catchments may require hazardous landfill if heavy metal content exceeds WAC limits.
These are the established routes for EWC 19 09. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Water treatment works generating and managing their own treatment residues
Agricultural land receiving WTW sludge as soil conditioner
Activated carbon manufacturers offering GAC regeneration services
Non-hazardous landfill accepting dewatered water treatment sludge
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 19 09 classification, transport, and treatment.
Water treatment residues cannot be disposed in ways that contaminate the water source being treated. Treatment works must implement risk-based approaches to sludge management. Member States may set sludge quality criteria under national regulations. No specific EU harmonised limits for WTW sludge land application.
Water treatment residues classified under EWC 19 09 unless the treatment process itself is covered by another chapter. Spent ion exchange resins from industrial processes may fall under chapter 06, 07 or 11 depending on origin. Correct chapter assignment determines regulatory obligations.
Aluminium sulphate and ferric chloride coagulants used in water treatment are REACH-registered substances. Residual coagulant in sludge contributes to aluminium or iron load in land-applied sludge. No specific SVHC designation for Al/Fe coagulant residues; land application limits governed by national soil protection legislation.
Leave your work email. Our industrial desk sends verified company contacts with location-specific pricing and contract minimums for wastes from the preparation of water intended for human consumption or water for industrial use — not generic benchmarks.
Reviewed by our industrial desk within 1 business day.
Sectors that valorise EWC 19 09 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 19 09 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 19 09 and related waste streams flow across European industries and sectors.
Source: EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC · NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat 2008
Browse all EWC codes