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Water Reuse—Analysis of the Possibility of Using Reclaimed Water Depending on the Quality Class in the European Countries

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  • Klara Ramm

    (Department of Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-661 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Marzena Smol

    (Division of Biogenic Raw Materials, Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-261 Krakow, Poland)

Abstract

In 2020, the European Commission (EC) defined a legal requirement for water reuse for agricultural purposes in the European Union (EU). EU Regulation (2020/741) on minimum requirements for water reuse should mobilize member states to implement solutions for the use of reclaimed water. This paper aims to examine the state of implementation of the provisions of this Regulation at the time of its entry into force. Based on desk research, the legal status of water reuse in EU countries, with particular emphasis on the issues of reclaimed water quality and its applications, was analyzed. The state of implementation of solutions regulating water reuse varies significantly across the EU’s countries. Central and Eastern European (e.g., Poland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) countries are in no rush to regulate water reuse in agriculture; some will take advantage of the derogation to gain more time to consider it. Southern countries (e.g., Greece, Italy, France, Spain) are the most advanced and have experience in practical implementations gained before the Regulation was introduced. However, they use different quality control parameters. For now, France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain have fully implemented EC Regulation (2020/741); Belgium, Hungary, and Italy have partially implemented it; Malta has implemented it practically but not formally; and Cyprus has implemented it in distributed regulations. It should be pointed out that the potential for water reuse in the EU is significant, and this process is needed due to climate change consequences for Europe’s water resources. Therefore, further initiatives are expected, including the implementation by other countries of the provisions of Regulation (2020/741) in the coming decades.

Suggested Citation

  • Klara Ramm & Marzena Smol, 2023. "Water Reuse—Analysis of the Possibility of Using Reclaimed Water Depending on the Quality Class in the European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:17:p:12781-:d:1223635
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marzena Smol, 2023. "Circular Economy in Wastewater Treatment Plant—Water, Energy and Raw Materials Recovery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Jack E. Beard & Marc F.P. Bierkens & Ruud P. Bartholomeus, 2019. "Following the Water: Characterising de facto Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture in the Netherlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-20, October.
    3. Florin-Constantin Mihai & Ionut Minea, 2021. "Sustainable Alternative Routes versus Linear Economy and Resources Degradation in Eastern Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-23, September.
    4. Smol, Marzena, 2022. "Is the green deal a global strategy? Revision of the green deal definitions, strategies and importance in post-COVID recovery plans in various regions of the world," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    5. Jolita Kruopienė & Miglė Žiukaitė, 2022. "Situation Analysis and the Potential for Circularity of the Wastewater Sector in Lithuania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-21, April.
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    1. Kazimierz Szymański & Jacek Piekarski & Tomasz Dąbrowski & Krzysztof Piaskowski & Renata Świderska-Dąbrowska & Katarzyna Ignatowicz, 2025. "Analysis of the Effectiveness of the Energy-Efficient Gravity Filtration Process in Terms of Its Application as the Third Stage of Wastewater Treatment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Mancini, G. & Lombardi, L. & Luciano, A. & Bolzonella, D. & Viotti, P. & Fino, D., 2024. "A reduction in global impacts through a waste-wastewater-energy nexus: A life cycle assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).

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