As of now, the new Water Reuse Regulation is in force in most member countries of the European Union. This measure aims to harness safely treated urban wastewater to help farmers irrigate their crops in times of exceptionally hot and dry weather, especially in southern Europe.
“Water is a precious resource that is becoming increasingly scarce. Just as we are increasingly reusing other scarce materials and commodities, urban wastewater can be successfully treated with available technologies,” said Virginius Sinkevičius of Lithuania, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.
“This opens up many possibilities for farmers who can safely use the reclaimed water for irrigation. With these new standards, consumers and farmers can be confident in the quality and safety of agricultural products irrigated with reuse water,” he said.
According to the EU, more than 40 billion cubic meters of wastewater are processed each year. However, only 2.4% of them receive additional treatment to be reused in the agriculture. As agriculture consumes around 50% of the EU’s water, reuse measures are expected to have a major impact in protecting biodiversity, reducing pollution and alleviating pressure on critical water resources in the future.
Wastewater and circular economy
Reusing water can be an effective solution to reduce fertilizer use, as reclaimed water contains nutrients that can be reused. While energy is required to treat wastewater, this is offset by decreased groundwater abstraction and fertilizer applications.
The new measures are intended to be in line with the European Green Deal and with the priorities established to promote a circular economy.
“Water reuse also contributes to the Farm to Fork Strategy’s objective of reducing the environmental footprint of the EU food system and strengthening its resilience by providing an alternative, more reliable source of water for irrigation,” says the EU. In the big picture, it is important to consider the different financing options available for reuse water irrigation.
Big differences between EU countries
In the European Union, there is wide variation in the reuse of wastewater treated by its member states. Some countries are able to reuse up to 89% of this water, while others barely do it or not at all. In fact, most countries manage to recover only 5% of their wastewater. According to EU officials, it is estimated that it is possible to reuse up to six times more water than is currently possible.
As for the new rules, it’s important to note that European nations have the option to opt out of them if they so choose. Some countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Romania and Hungary have chosen to use reused water. On the other hand, Germany allows the reuse of treated wastewater in most parts of the country, although there are exceptions in some specific areas.
Currently, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic and Finland are countries where it is not allowed. On the other hand, Ireland and Denmark have not yet taken a final decision on the matter.
The European Union also stresses the importance of cooperation between states, as many European rivers and lakes cross borders. The new rules establish common minimum standards for water treatment and reuse, which ensures safe practices and facilitates the export of products grown with recycled water to different markets.
With information from sustainability-times.com