REGULATION (EU) 2020/741 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 May 2020 on minimum requirements for water reuse

Description:

The Regulation on minimum requirements for water reuse for agricultural irrigation entered into force in May 2020. The new rules will apply from 26 June 2023 and are expected to stimulate and facilitate water reuse in the EU.

Reuse of treated wastewater can be considered a reliable water supply, quite independent from seasonal drought and weather variability and able to cover peaks of water demand. This can be very beneficial to farming activities that can rely on reliable continuity of water supply during the irrigation period, consequently reducing the risk of crop failure and income losses. Appropriate consideration for nutrients in treated wastewater could also reduce the use of additional fertilisers resulting in savings for the environment, farmers and wastewater treatment.

The Regulation sets out:

• Harmonised minimum water quality requirements for the safe reuse of treated urban wastewaters in agricultural irrigation;
• Harmonised minimum monitoring requirements, notably the frequency of monitoring for each quality parameter, and validation monitoring requirements;
• Risk management provisions to assess and address potential additional health risks and possible environmental risks;
• Permitting requirements;
• Provisions on transparency, whereby key information about any water reuse project is made available to the public.

The new rules are to be situated in the context of the "Circular Economy Action Plan" adopted in 2020, which includes the implementation of the new Regulation amongst Europe’s priorities for the circular economy. The Action Plan also announces that the Commission will facilitate water reuse and efficiency in other sectors, including in industrial processes.

Reference information