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New European Regulation for Water Reuse

The Regulation recently proposed by the Commission aims at alleviating water scarcity across the EU, in the context of adapting to climate change. It will ensure that treated waste water intended for agricultural irrigation is safe, protecting citizens and the environment. The new rules consist of: a) minimum requirements for the reuse of treated waste water from urban waste water treatment plants, covering microbiological elements (for example, levels of E. coli bacteria) and monitoring requirements for routine and validation monitoring. Setting minimum requirements will guarantee that reclaimed water produced in accordance with the new rules will be safe for irrigation. b) risk management whereby any additional hazards must be addressed for water reuse to be safe. c) increased transparency. The public will have access to information online about water reuse practice in their Member States.