1. WWater reuse Water Directors 24/11/2014 Nicola NOTARO
Deputy Head of Water Unit
Directorate General for Environment
European Commission 1

2. State of play – Water reuse
BIO by Deloitte contract – review previous work, finalise methodology (scope, problem definition, baseline scenario), identify policy options, impact assessment
Scope of the study:
Reuse of urban wastewater that is treated after collection and has been subject to secondary treatment (at least)
Reuse of industrial wastewater for external purposes
For various types of applications, e.g.:
agricultural uses, urban uses, industrial uses, environmental uses, recreational uses
Not covered by this study: reuse of rainwater or greywater
AMEC – a follow-up contract to support the completion of impact assessment & drafting a possible EU-level instrument on water reuse (start on 1 December 2014) 2 2 2 2

3. 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.
To reinforce the achievement of the main objectives, the above options could be combined, e.g. information, communication and knowledge enhancements measures could accompany the non-binding or binding measures. 3 3 3 3

4. Impact assessment of the identified policy options
Next steps
Impact assessment of the identified policy options
Impact Assessment Roadmap – publication pending internal agreement
Public consultation completed (30/7/2014 – 7/11/2014 ( – statistics already published
Stakeholders meeting (an analysis of replies to be presented & further feedback) – 4 December 2014
Completion of IA (proposal of an EU level instrument on water reuse) – December 2014/1 Quarter 2015
EC Impact Assessment Board – June 2015
Commission proposal of an EU-level instrument on water reuse (if justified) – end 2015 4 4 4 4

9. Thank you for your attention. http://ec. europa
Blueprint Communication COM(2012)673+ Impact Assessment SWD(2012) 381 & 382
Update on water reuse and links to CIRCABC
Report on River Basin Management Plans COM(2012)670
Commission Staff Working Document, European Overview on River Basin Management
Plans, Volumes 1 and 2 SWD(2012) 379
Commission Staff Working Document, River Basin Management Plans, Volumes 3 to 30
(All Member States + Norway) SWD(2012) 379
Communication on the Review of the European Water Scarcity and Drought Policy
COM(2012)672 + accompanying Commission Staff Working Document SWD(2012)380
Fitness Check SWD (2012)393 9 9 9