Developing the potential for reusing wastewater in Europe – EU Commission answer

Brussels, 3 August 2022

See question(s) : E-002057/2022

EN
E-002057/2022
Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius
on behalf of the European Commission
(3.8.2022)

Several projects focused on reusing treated wastewater are funded through EU programmes, including the EU programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE)¹. Horizon 2020² supported several projects addressing a wide range of innovative technologies and integrated solutions to promote wastewater treatment and water reuse and to strengthen their potential in different sectors, including agriculture and industry³. Horizon 2020 also promoted the creation of a network of water reuse practitioners and other relevant actors in agriculture, to further support the exchange of knowledge, experience and skills, and the dissemination of directly applicable technological and organisational solutions around Europe. This fostered resiliency to water scarcity and other climate change effects in the agricultural sector⁴. Horizon Europe⁵ and cohesion policy funds⁶ can also further support the uptake of water reuse solutions. In particular, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)⁷ may
support projects for the preservation and reuse of water resources. Under the Recovery and Resilience Facility⁸, water re-use was proposed within the reforms and investments potentially linked to the green transition⁹.

Finally, funding opportunities also exist under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)¹⁰. Article 74 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115¹¹ sets out rules for investments in irrigation, including investments in the use of reclaimed water as an alternative water supply. Under this article Member States may provide support for these projects in compliance with the Water Reuse Regulation¹². The specific support and requirements will be detailed by Member States in their CAP strategic plans.

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1 LIFE ULISES on upgrading wastewater treatment plants :
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/project/details/5083; LIFE AMIA on innovative combinations of wastewater treatment technologies: https://lifeamia.eu/
2 https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-andopen-calls/horizon-2020_en
3 For example projects MADFORWATER, RichWater, PAVITR, RMEB, ECWRTI the catalogue ‘Research & Innovation Projects relevant to Water research’, https://ec.europa.eu/info/files/water research-research-andinnovation-projects-2014-2020_en
4 Suwanu Europe: https://suwanu-europe.eu
5 https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding programmes-andopen-calls/horizon-europe_en
6 e.g. Interreg AQUARES on efficient water management through water reuse: https://projects2014-
2020.interregeurope.eu/aquares/
7 Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund
8 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
9 SWD (2021) 12 Final. https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/document_travail_service_part1_v2_en.pdf
10 https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/key-policies/common-agricultural-policy_en
11 Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013, OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 1–186.
12 Regulation 2020/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse.

Source: Answer to a written question – Developing the potential for reusing wastewater in Europe – E-002057/2022(ASW)