Water Recycling in the EU - Addressing Challenges and Benefits
Water recycling in the EU is gaining traction due to the increasing pressure on water resources. Recovered water treated to safe standards has economic and environmental benefits. Despite challenges like costs, it has potential for applications in agriculture and industry. EurEau, representing water service providers across Europe, emphasizes the importance of efficient water reuse practices. Learn about the key messages, benefits, and policy context surrounding water reuse in the EU through this informative content.
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Water Recycling the EU case Neil Dhot Secretary General
1. Water Reuse in the EU 2. What is Reuse? 3. What are the benefits? 4. What are the problems? 5. Case study EurEau.Water Matters. eureau.org
What is EurEau? Our members are the national water services associations from 28 European countries EurEau the voice of Europe s water sector since 1975 We represent public and private drinking and waste water service providers Employing 500,00 people, the sector makes a significant contribution to the European economy EurEau. Water Matters. eureau.org
1. Water Reuse in the EU Key messages Water recovered from wastewater and treated to standards that allow safe use. ~ Not common across Europe but is emerging and being encouraged by the EU. ~ It s necessary because of the huge pressure on water resources in Europe ~ Potential for major economic and environmental benefits and for agriculture and industry. ~ But some challenges, including costs, and reuse will not be appropriate in all cases. ~ EurEau.Water Matters. eureau.org
2. What is Reuse? ~ Water recovered from wastewater and treated to standards that allow safe use. ~ Two major types of water reuse: Direct: recovered water flows via pipelines, storage tanks, etc directly from treatment to a distribution system. Indirect: recovered water, placed into a water supply source eg lake, river, or aquifer and then retrieved to be used again. ~ Various international definitions, eg EU, Australia, USA, all say reclaiming wastewater for beneficial use ~ Southern European states leading this work EurEau.Water Matters. eureau.org
2. What is Reuse? ~ EU policy context: Water Framework Directive Water bodies which are over abstracted, at low levels or low flows are not at good status . Requires policies to incentivise water efficiency ~ Climate change action EU now demanding action on water scarcity and droughts ~ Circular Economy more efficient use of natural resources and preservation of their value Guidance document and standards according to the use are foreseen for next year. EurEau.Water Matters. eureau.org
3. What are the benefits? Who/What benefits from using recovered water: ~ Agriculture and irrigation: The main water user in Europe 33% of total water use. 80% of abstractions in Southern Europe ~ Industrial: varied uses eg cooling, processing, washing 40% of total EU water use by industry and energy ~ Urban: varied uses eg parks, fire fighting, street cleaning 37% of wastewater in southern Europe is for urban use ~ Environmental: restoring natural habitats (wetlands/marshes), urban flood defences, aquifer recharge EurEau.Water Matters. eureau.org
3. What are the benefits? ~ Economic benefits: Huge potential for billions in direct and indirect benefits. Plus: 2009-2015 capital expenditure on water re-use grew at a compound annual growth rate of 19.5% a year 2009-2015 global capacity of reuse plants grew from 28Mm3/d to 70Mm3/d ~ Economic risks of not acting on reuse: Impact of EU economy of 2003 drought - 8.7billion 1% increase in drought area slows a country s GDP by up to 2.7% a year. Spanish study (2001) restrictions on non-priority water users following drought warning would lead to loss of 1.196bn to Catalunya economy EurEau.Water Matters. eureau.org
4. What are the problems? There are still many challenges to overcome: ~ Water quality: many factors to take into account Quality of receiving water Depth of water table and soil drainage Impact of particles eg metals and chemicals on soil productivity WHO has identified potential risks to human health but other research is contradictory. ~ Hydrology: impact of introducing reused water to river flow levels ~ Treatment: determining level of treatment and technology EurEau.Water Matters. choice is complex. eureau.org
4. What are the problems? ~ Distribution and storage: could be inefficient and costly Difficult to show how much reused water flowing into receiving waters is reused Storing and pumping reused water into a distant network is costly ~ Legislative barriers: in some EU countries too stringent/impossible measures in implementation EurEau.Water Matters. eureau.org
5. Case study High quality recycled water for agricultural irrigation from two wastewater treatment plants in Milan, Italy. Success factors: ~ Presence of a very old complex network of irrigation canals and agricultural activity near the city. ~ Delivery of high quality recycled water to farmers almost free of charge ~ Effective control of water allocation by two farmer associations ~ High operational efficiency and reliability ensured by high qualified staff and public-private partnership ~ Public education programs and collaborations with non-profit organisations. EurEau.Water Matters. eureau.org
5. Case study Key figures: ~ Capital cost: 150 M (Nosedo), 132.6 M (San Rocco) ~ Operation and maintenance costs of between 0.115 /m3 and 0.139 /m3 ~ Stringent standards for unrestricted irrigation of <10 E.coli/100 ml ~ Recognised environmental benefits and added value for agriculture EurEau.Water Matters. eureau.org
Thank you for your attention Neil Dhot Secretary General EurEau Neil.dhot@eureau.org Rue du Luxembourg 47-51, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 706 40 80 Fax: +32 (0)2 706 40 81 BE 0416 415 347 secretariat@eureau.org www.eureau.org EurEau. Water Matters. www.eureau.org
