Water Supply Vol 3 No 4 pp 59–68 © IWA Publishing 2003
Challenges and prospectives for water recycling and reuse in EU countries
A.N. Angelakis*, L. Bontoux** and V. Lazarova***
*Hellenic Union of Municipal Enter. for Water Supply and Sewerage, 41200 Larissa and National Agric. Res. Foundation, Regional Foundation for Agricultural Research of Crete, Water Resources and Environment Division, P.O. Box 2229, 71307 Iraklio, Greece (E-mail: angelak@nagref-her.gr)
**EC-DG RTD, Key Action "Environment and Health", Rue de la Loi, 200, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium
***ONDEO Service-CIRSEE, 38 rue du President-Wilson, 78230 Le Pecq, France
ABSTRACT
Recycled water is a reliable source of water that must be taken into account in formulating a sustainable water policy. Water reuse is a growing field and many projects have been occurring throughout Europe in the last fifteen years. Most of northern EU countries have abundant water resources. In this case, the need for extra supply through the reuse of treated wastewater is not a priority, but the protection of the receiving environment is considered as an important issue. The situation is different in the southern EU countries, where the additional resource brought by water reuse promoted the implementation of a number of new projects. One of the major constraints for water reuse and its public acceptance is the lack of relevant legislation at EU level. As a result of this situation, both strict and flexible standards can be found in Europe, even in the same country (Spain, for example), illustrating an important equity issue, which needs to be addressed.
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