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EUREAU is a non-profit Union of National Associations of Water Suppliers and Wastewater Services from EU and EFTA countries. EUREAU countries depend on appropriately treated wastewater to protect the environment and ensure that freshwater is available for all applications. Water recycling and reuse through surface and groundwater bodies is common practice and public health is protected through potable water standards. The reuse of water for non potable applications or potable substitution has been proven internationally in water stressed regions to be a drought proof source of water and one of the most effective water scarcity solutions. This paper considers (a) the status of water recycling and reuse in EUREAU countries, (b) the major challenges, (c) the future views, and (d) successful examples wastewater reclamation and reuse in Europe.

The words we use and perhaps more importantly the pictures we paint to describe water reuse is perhaps the most important issue. We have to be open, honest and professional to build trust. How do we do that when our audience does not understand the anthropogenic water cycle let alone water reuse? China is adopting an Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) strategy having looked at the different approaches around the world. They say that they are also changing their institutional and regulatory framework to avoid overlapping regulation, confusion and to encourage IWCM to happen. One of the key parts of IWCM is water reuse. We need to promote professional and clear communication documents. We must promote easy ways for guidelines and best practice to be added to the Urban Wastewater Directive without creating excessive workload or “too difficult” barrier. These guidelines must make it easier for the next important projects like Depurbaix in Barcelona or Torreele in Flanders to be implemented with the advantage of proven European best practice. The greatest challenge we have is building a network of champions and Government capacity in the European market so that justifiable projects can be implemented. EUREAU were told that there would be no progress on reuse in Europe unless the Water Directors added reuse to their agenda. We know water scarcity was on the agenda for their November 2005 meeting in London as at least five Water Directors understand the importance of reuse as one of the water scarcity solution. Our challenge now is to decide how we most effectively communicate the importance and benefits of reuse to each of the Water Directors.