1. W EC work on water reuse Stakeholders meeting - follow-up to public consultation 4/12/2014 Pavel MISIGA Head of Water Unit Directorate General for Environment European Commission

2. Why is water use a concern in Europe? Balance between demand and availability has reached a critical level in many areas of Europe (water scarcity) More and more areas are affected by weather changes, in particular less rain (droughts) Climate change will almost certainly make the situation worse More frequent and severe droughts expected across Europe and the neighbouring countries Total water abstraction in EU 247 billion m³/year 44% for energy production 24% for agriculture 17% for public water supply 15% for industry Business as usual scenario: Total abstraction will increase by 16% by 2030

3. Policy to help promote water efficiency Blueprint 2012 Review of WFD implementation Review of Water Scarcity & Droughts policy implementation Review of water resources vulnerability Fitness Check of EU fresh water policy EEA reports & studies 7 EAP Objective 2: to turn the EU into a resource-efficient, greener and more competitive low-carbon economy

4. Blueprint impact assessment 12 priority problems Lack of water pricing Lack of metering Lack of labeling of traded goods Land use/Agricultural impacts (NWRM) Inefficiency in buildings/appliances Inefficient water infrastructure Lack of water re-use Governance Target setting Drought management Understanding costs and benefits Knowledge base

5. Blueprint objectivesVoluntaryRegulationConditionalityFunding Efficient incentive water pricing CIS Guidance on trading schemes by 2014 Enforcement of Art. 9 WFD (ongoing) Ex-ante conditions under RD&C policy funds 2014 Metering take up Enforcement of Art. 9 WFD (ongoing) Water use reduction in agriculture Precondition for some irrigation projects under RD as of 2014 Reduction of illegal abstraction/impoundm ents Apply GMES as of 2013 Possible EU initiative on inspections - 2013 Cross-compliance under CAP Awareness of water consumption Support voluntary labeling & certific. schemes Maximisation of the use of NWRM (Green Infr.) CIS Guidance by 2014 Greening of CAP pillar I as of 2014 S&C Funds & EIB loans Efficient water appliances in buildings EU Ecolabel & GPP criteria 2013 Eco-design Working Plan in 2012 Reduction of leakages Best practice/tools on SELL in 2013 S&C Funds & EIB loans Maximisation of water reuse Possible Regulation in 2015 S&C Funds & EIB loans Improvement of governance Peer review of RBMPs (2013 – 2016)

6. Blueprint objectivesVoluntaryRegulationConditionalityFunding Implementation of water accounts, e-flows & target setting CIS Guidance on WAs / E- flows & Target setting by 2014 Reduction of flood risk Through Green Infr. European Flood Awareness System Flood Risk Management Plans by 2015 Reduction of drought risk Through Green Infr. European Flood EDO in 2013-2014 Enforcement of WFD requirements (ongoing) Better calculation of costs and benefits CIS Guidance by 2014 Better knowledge baseUpgrading WISE by 2015 Support to developing countries Tackling pollution Report on pharmaceuticals & the environment 2013 Targeted enforcement of WFD, EQS/PSD, NID, UWWTD, IED … Cross-cuttingEIPs on Water and Agri as of 2013 Overall enforcement of WFD, EQS/PSD, NID, UWWTD, IED Possible European Semester Recomm. 2013 CAP, S&C Funds & EIB loans

7. Water reuse – why? Alleviate water scarcity Reduce demand on potable water supplies and high quality sources Supplement conventional sources A valuable buffer against drought and water shortage especially for industry and irrigation Improve operational efficiency; reduce energy costs Reduce nutrient discharge to the environment Reduce water stress on specific sectors

8. Treated wastewater reuse–current status 946Mm3/year wastewater treated and reused in Europe (2.4% of all treated wastewater) Spain accounts for half of the current use Reuse rates Cyprus (100%), Greece, Spain, Italy (5% - 12%) Applications: agriculture (75%) environmental enhancement (8%), industry use (6%), groundwater recharge (6%) urban uses (6%) Regulations/standards exist in many countries mostly WHO-guided; not harmonised at EU level

9. Treated wastewater reuse – benefits Viable only when it becomes a more economic alternative to other conventional supply options – link to water pricing Generates substantial savings to industry when it substitutes high-quality process water Increases the economic value of water Substitutes potable water for non-potable applications A reliable drought proof source for both agriculture and industry

10. Follow-up to the Blueprint EC launched a support contract to address water reuse at the EU level (Bio by Deloitte) Scope of the study: reuse of treated urban wastewater & reuse of industrial wastewater for external purposes Analysis of the current situation on water reuse in the EU (problem definition, baseline scenario, trends, etc.) Assessment of social, economic and environmental impacts, and the feasibility of the proposed policy options Public and stakeholders consultation Impact assessment of the selected policy option Duration: Sep 2013 – Dec 2014 Proposal of potential EU instrument(s) end of 2015

11. Potential EU-level measures No action: no policy change Non-binding measures aimed at improving: the implementation/enforcement of pricing, controls of abstractions and integrated water management, promotion of upcoming ISO/CEN water reuse standards, promotion of risk-based approaches for regulating water reuse. Binding standards on water reuse and/or binding framework for water reuse practices on the basis of a risk-based approach in order to maximise water reuse, where necessary, and to provide a clear framework for managing health and environmental risks related to water reuse practices. This could encompass elements such as risk management plans, treatment standards, treatment process controls, application controls and water quality benchmarks, possible requirement to consider and/or establish targets on water reuse in the context of integrated water management where relevant (no EU-level target on water reuse), etc. Information, communication and knowledge enhancement measures including EU guidance development, knowledge sharing and awareness raising actions targeting the general public and the practitioners.

12. Next steps Impact assessment of the identified policy options  Impact Assessment Roadmap – publication soon  Public consultation completed (30/7/2014 – 7/11/2014 (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/wate r_reuse_en.htm) – statistics already published & detailed analysis of responses to be published in the near futurehttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/wate r_reuse_en.htm  Completion of IA – 1 Quarter 2015  EC Impact Assessment Board – June 2015  Commission proposal of an EU-level instrument on water reuse (if justified) – end 2015

13. EC work on water reuse could be accessed at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/follow_up_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/follow_up_en.htm Water reuse team – EC DG ENV Dagmar BEHRENDT KALJARIKOVA (C.1) Dagmar.Kaljarikova@ec.europa.eu Thomas PETITGUYOT (C.1) Thomas.Petitguyot@ec.europa.eu Christof MAINZ (C.2) Christof.Mainz@ec.europa.eu Reuse of reclaimed water (2006)

14. Thank you for your attention !