Water reuse

Water is crucial for agriculture and industry, but with climate change and rising demand, resources are depleting; repurposing treated wastewater for farming is one solution.

JRC research shows reusing water could cover 10% of agricultural water needs, reducing overall water consumption. JRC has also established water quality standard for recycled water and is working with businesses and policymakers to ensure a safe and continuous water supply.

In the EU, more than 1 in 10 people are affected by water scarcity. Currently, 1 billion cubic meters of treated municipal wastewater is reused each year in the EU, but there is potential to reuse six times this amount.

Reusing treated wastewater can help address water shortages in drought-affected areas, providing a dependable water source, reducing strain on natural water sources, and supporting the EU's efforts to adapt to climate change.

The EU has introduced the Regulation 741/2020 concerning the reuse of water in agriculture. This law aims to facilitate water recycling for irrigation purposes. It also ensures the safety of irrigated food and the protection of people and the environment.

Scientists from the JRC played a key role in developing this regulation, establishing quality standards for water and guidelines for managing potential risks associated with water reuse systems.

Before recycling water, the Water Reuse Regulation requires a safety plan called Risk Management Plan. This plan aims at finding and reducing any dangers to health and environment from using cleaned-up water for farming.

The JRC wrote a guidance with step-by-step instructions that operators, farmers and others involved in the reuse system need to follow to guarantee recycled water is safe for watering crops. This document was used for important legislative documents: the European Commission guidelines and the European Commission regulation specifying requirements for risk management.