Circular water management: wastewater and water reuse

Annalies Outhuijse and Dafne van der Kraan

Chapter 22 in Research Handbook on EU Water Law, 2026, pp 385-400 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter discusses the water scarcity in Europe and one of the potential partial remedies, the reuse of wastewater. It outlines the urgency to address water scarcity and to reuse water, before delving into the EU's legal framework. The Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) are firstly discussed. While these directives primarily focus on other goals, they also indirectly support water reuse. The contribution subsequently delves into the Regulation on Minimum Requirements for Water Reuse (WRR), which describes the requirements for the quality of reclaimed water intended for agricultural irrigation and emphasizes the importance of risk management and public awareness. Furthermore, the text highlights recent proposals to amend the WFD and the UWWTD. These proposals aim to align water management policies with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the circular economy. We conclude that by implementing regulatory frameworks, promoting awareness, and investing in infrastructure, Member States can harness the potential of wastewater reuse to ensure water security for future generations. Steps are taken and although some Member States are far in developing reuse of wastewater, others are not. Differences are partly explained by the fact that water reuse is stimulated by the European framework but is not mandatory. Research and encouragement from the Member States and the European Union are therefore still necessary.

Keywords: Circularity; Water Scarcity; Wastewater Reuse; Reclaimed water (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035336425
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