Water in European Union 2015 action plan for circular economy

Water in the 2015 Action Plan
for the Circular Economy
Side meeting on Water reuse -
status and contribution to the EU initiative
Joaquim Capitão
DG Environment, European Commission

Water reuse in the Circular Economy
Action Plan
The main action related to water is the proposal concerning water reuse
"4- From waste to resources: boosting the market for secondary raw materials and
water reuse:
[…]
Water scarcity has worsened in some parts of the EU in recent decades, with
damaging effects on our environment and economy. In addition to water-
efficiency measures, the reuse of treated wastewater in safe and cost-effective
conditions is a valuable but under-used means of increasing water supply and
alleviating pressure on over-exploited water resources in the EU. Water reuse in
agriculture also contributes to nutrients recycling by substitution of solid fertilisers.
[…]
- The Commission will take a series of actions to facilitate water reuse; this will
include a legislative proposal on minimum requirements for reused water, e.g. for
irrigation and groundwater recharge."

Worrying mismatch
between water demand and resources
 Water scarcity in summer in 1/4 of the EU territory
(and more than 10% all year round)
 More acute in the South but increasing in Northern & Eastern MS
 Growing competition among uses
 Increasing environmental and economic damages
 Exacerbated by climate change
 In 2030: water scarcity in half of EU river basins
 Failure to achieve good status in EU waters
 Threat to the economy

An untapped potential
An accepted but limited
practice:
964 Mm3/year in 2006 =
• 2.4% of the total volume of
treated effluents produced
(5 to 12% of treated
effluents in Greece, Italy
and Spain)
• ~ 0.4% of annual EU
freshwater withdrawals
 Achievable potential
6,000 Mm3/y by 2025
 still far below the levels encountered in non-EU countries such as Australia or
Singapore (15-35 % of water demand met by reclaimed water)

Water reuse in the CE action plan
In the annex of the Communication
Proposed legislation setting minimum
requirements for reused water for irrigation and
groundwater recharge
2017
Promotion of safe and cost-effective water reuse,
including guidance on the integration of water reuse
in water planning and management, inclusion of best
practices in relevant BREFs, and support to
innovation (through the European Innovation
Partnership and Horizon 2020) and investments
2016-2017

Thank you for your attention !
Information and documents available at the
dedicated EC Internet page:
 Circular Economy:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-
economy/index_en.htm
 Water Reuse:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/reuse.htm

1- Reuse in integrated water planning
and management
Development of a guidance document
- Better integration in implementation of WFD
- Common understanding of EU water legislation (WFD, UWWTD,
ND…)
- Based on experience in MS and third countries
 To be issued by mid 2016
 Developed within the WFD Common Implementation Strategy
(MS and stakeholders, endorsed by MS water directors)

2- Minimum quality requirements for water
reuse in irrigation and aquifer recharge
 Addressing one of the main barriers = lack of a coherent and
comprehensive legislative framework within the EU
 Focussing on the 2 uses with greatest potential and EU added value
(re. single market on food and existing EU water law on GW& DW)
 Proposal for and EU legislation by mid 2017, provided IA is positive
 JRC mandated by ENV to develop a technical proposal by end 2016, incl.
consultation with the independent Scientific Committee on Health and
Environmental Risks (SCHER)

3- Water reuse in industrial activities
 In the framework of the Industrial Emissions Directive
(2010/75/EU) implementation: Best Available Techniques
Reference Documents (BREFs) for relevant industrial sectors
 On-going discussion on options:
Development of a cross-cutting approach on resource efficiency
(incl. Water reuse)
or
Further integration in sectorial BREFs
 Most relevant sectors:
Food, Drink and Milk
Textiles
Industrial cooling systems

4- Support to research and innovation
 Active field for research and innovation; competition in a world
market
 Support to numerous related action group within the European
Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Water
 Increasing visibility of funding opportunities
in Horizon 2020 calls – specific calls on circular economy incl.
water reuse
in ERDF (smart specialisation)
in LIFE (Programme for the Environment and Climate Action)
 Identification of regulatory barriers to RDI
 Dedicated event in the next EIP conference (Feb 2016)

5- EU funds for investments
in water reuse
EU funding already available under
- European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
- Cohesion Fund (CF)
- European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EARDF)
 Increasing visibility of funding opportunities
 Check opportunities in the European Fund for Strategic
Investments (EFSI) and specific developments under the Circular
economy

Water in European Union 2015 action plan for circular economy

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