WATER REUSE IN EUROPE

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1 Mexico th World Water Forum WATER REUSE IN EUROPE Maria Helena MARECOS do MONTE Former President of the EWA PhD, MSc, Chem & San Eng Professor at ISEL, Lisbon, Portugal hmarecos@dec.isel.ipl.pt

2 Contents Freshwater availability in Europe vs the World Water stress regions in Europe Sectoral use of water in Europe Applications of water reuse in Europe Practice of water reuse in some European countries Treated wastewater availability in Europe Guidelines and/or regulations on water reuse

3 EUROPE European Union

4 Freshwater availability Europe versus the world m 3 /inhab/year

5 Water abstraction versus renewable water resources in Europe Source: EEA

6 Water stress regions in Europe 9 countries, lying mainly in southern Europe, which represent 32% of EU population, are moderately water stressed (G, B, DK, PT,RO, TK). 4 countries, in southern Europe, representing 18% of the population, are water stressed (CY, I, MA, SP). WEI has decreased in 17 countries during the period Mostly in the new members due to the decline of abstractions (institutional and economic changes) LU, UK,GR, PT, TK and MA have increased their WEI

7 Applications of water reuse in Europe Agricultural irrigation Landscape irrigation Industrial recycling and reuse Groundwater recharge Non-potable urban uses Indirect potable use Country that practices water reuse

8 Practice of water reuse: France and Italy France Long tradition in irrigation with treated wastewater (as a land treatment process) Interest in water reuse increased in the 90 s Several types of application Official Guidelines since Technical recommendations about WW treatment to comply with reuse Guidelines Agricultural and landscape irrigation- (Lazarova et al., 2000) Italy Reuse mainly for agriculture (Sicily and Sardinia) Water reuse for industry is practiced in the metropolitan area of Turin. Existing Guidelines very strict

9 Practice of water reuse: Portugal and Spain Portugal Agricultural irrigation Golf course Landscape irrigation National Statndard on Water Reuse for Irrigation recently published (NP 4434) Spain Agricultural irrigation Golf course Landscape irrigation Groundwater recharge No national regulations, although some Autonomous Regions have legal recommendations

10 Practice of water reuse: Cyprus, Greece and Malta Cyprus Water reuse for irrigation in: Agriculture Landscape Golf courses Standards + Code of Practice Greece Water reuse for irrigation Reseach and pilot projects Small projects full scale Proposed Guidelines in the pipe Malta Water reuse for irrigation: Long tradition (since 1884) Agricultural (unresticted) Water reuse for industry Cooling water in thermal power plant Ship hulls washing prior painting

11 Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Belgium Water reused for : Recycling in industry (textile and chemistry) Power supply Steel manufacturing and metal finishing Water supply augmentation Guidelines are being promoted by the Government Germany Articial groundwater recharge UK Water reuse for : irrigation of parks, golf courses Power supply Car washing Study for preparation of guidelines Nothern European countries mainly recycle water in industry Southern European countries mainly reuse for irrigation

12 Guidelines and/or regulations Specific EU regulation concerning water reuse does not exist Directive on UWW Treatment states: Treated wastewater shall be reused whenever appropriate. Need to develop EU guidelines for water reuse for different applications France, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus and some Autonomous Regions in Spain developed guidelines concerning water reuse for irrigation Greece, Belgium and the UK are preparing guidelines

13 Mexico th World Water Forum THANK YOU hmarecos@dec.isel.ipl.pt

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15 Water stress regions in Europe 9 countries, lying mainly in southern Europe, which represent 32% of EU population, are moderately water stressed (G, B, DK, PT,RO, TK). 4 countries, in southern Europe, representing 18% of the population, are water stressed (CY, I, MA, SP). WEI has decreased in 17 countries during the period Mostly in the new members due to the decline of abstractions (institutional and economic changes) LU, UK,GR, PT, TK and MA have increased their WEI

16 Trends of Water Exploitation Index in Europe Total water abstraction in Europe is expected to decrease by more than 10% between 2000 and Climate change is expected to reduce water availability and increase irrigation withdrawals in Mediterranean river basins. The sectoral profile of water abstraction is expected to change: Withdrawals for the electricity sector are projected to decrease dramatically over the next 30 years Water use in the manufacturing sector is likely to continue to grow. In eastern Europe, water use in the domestic sector may grow significantly. Agriculture is expected to remain the largest water user in the Mediterranean countries, with more irrigation. Source: EEA, 2005

17 Salt water intrusion and sensitivity to desertification in Europe Source: EEA, 2005 Salt water intrusion as a result of increasing groundwater over-exploitation is concern in many coastal aquifers trought Europe. Irrigation is the main cause of groundwater over-exploitation in agricultural areas. Sensitivity to Desertification is evaluated by an index concerning vegetation, soil and climate characteristics. Water availabity affects sensitivity to desertification

18 Treated wastewater availability in Europe Wastewater treatment in all parts of Europe has improved significantly since the 1980s. In several countries in northwestern Europe there has been a marked increase in the population connected to tertiary waste water treatment in the 1990s resulting in marked reductions in phosphorus and nitrogen discharges. However the percentage of population connected to waste water treatment is relatively low in southern Europe and in the Accession Countries.

19 Trends for water reuse in Europe Treated wastewater in Europe availability is relevant and can be included in the volume of water resources. Water reuse is practiced in many European countries to satisfy water demand and for environmental protection. Although national regulamentions may be produced in some countries, regulations at the EU level are necessary. EU regulations on water reuse fit well into the EU water policy generally defined by the Water Framework Directive.

20 Sustainable water management in the EU In Europe, the Water Framework Directive (WFD ) nº 2000/60/EC and the 6 th Environment Action Programme for the EU ( ) aim to encourage resource efficiency through more sustainable consumption patterns. Abstraction rates must be sustainable in order to ensure the protection and management of water resources and related ecosystems. One of the environmental objectives of the WFD is to ensure a balance between abstraction and recharge of groundwater, with the aim to achieve good groundwater status The inclusion of reclaimed wastewater for water reuse purposes contributes to sustainable water consumption patterns.

21 Preamble to the Water Framework Directive nº 2000/60/EC - The need for integrated water policy; the use of a river basin approach; the principles of precaution and preventive action; the need for remedial measures at source to address environmental threats; the use of the polluter-pays principle and the recovery of costs linked to water use ( including environmental and resource costs ); the need for decisions to be made as close as possible to the locations where water is affected or used ; the need for a combined approach to controlling pollution at source through the setting of emission limit values and of environmental quality standards ; involvement of the public as a condition for success.