Water Reuse: the European Parliament said "YES"

Plans to counter water scarcity by facilitating the reuse of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation were endorsed by Parliament last February 2019.

The new law defines minimum quality standards for reclaimed water to be used for agricultural irrigation. It also sets out obligations for production, distribution and storage operators, as well as risk management measures. Reclaimed water (i.e. urban wastewater that has been treated in a reclamation plant) can now be used to irrigate food crops, processed food crops and non-food crops. The Commission will have to assess within five years whether reclaimed water can be used in other ways.

MEPs say that in the meantime, member states may allow reclaimed water to be used in other ways, such as industrial water reuse and for amenity-related and environmental purposes, provided that human health, animals and the environment are thoroughly protected.