Roberta Maffettone (European Commission): "Water reuse is key to EU circular water strategies"Water reuse offers Europe a vital opportunity to s...
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
Water reuse offers Europe a vital opportunity to strengthen resilience to water scarcity and climate change. Roberta Maffettone explains how the Joint Research Centre supports Member States with science-based guidance and tools to advance safe and effective reuse across the EU.
As Europe faces increasing water scarcity and climate challenges, water reuse is becoming a vital component of sustainable water management. The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) plays a key role in supporting the EU's efforts to implement water reuse efforts, especially with Regulation (EU) 2020/741. In this interview, Roberta Maffettone, Scientific Project Officer at the JRC's Ocean and Water Unit, explains how the JRC provides scientific evidence, supports the development of risk management methods, and works closely with Member States to ensure consistent, effective, and safe implementation of water reuse practices across Europe. Drawing on her expertise in environmental engineering, she highlights how research and policy support go hand in hand to advance sustainable water management.
There is interest in expanding the Water Reuse Regulation beyond agricultural irrigation to include industrial and urban applications
Please tell us briefly about your background and your current professional role.
I am a civil and environmental engineer with a Ph.D. in environmental engineering, and I have always been passionate about water. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work on various projects in both academia and industry, focusing on improving wastewater treatment efficiency and reuse. Currently, I am working at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre in the Ocean and Water Unit, where I am supporting EU water reuse initiatives by conducting research on various aspects, including methodologies for risk management. My goal is to contribute towards policies and practices that advance the one health approach and support economic growth. I am driven by the desire to make a positive impact and to find ways to balance the needs of the environment, the economy, and society. Water reuse is key to achieving the EU's water resilience objectives, and I feel lucky to contributing to it.
Can you provide an overview of how the Joint Research Centre supports the European Commission's efforts on water reuse, particularly since the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2020/741?
The Joint Research Centre plays a vital role in supporting the European Commission's water reuse efforts, especially with Regulation (EU) 2020/741. As the Commission's in-house science service, we lead the way in shaping the EU's regulatory framework. We have conducted crucial studies that have informed policymakers about the benefits and necessity of investing in water reuse, highlighting the need for standardised practices across the EU. The JRC contributed to establishing water quality standards for agricultural irrigation and developed robust risk management guidelines.
Some European countries are even developing national legislation on water reuse for the first time, which is a big step forward
Since its application, we have worked closely with the EU Member States, research centres, and academic institutions to support its rollout. We focus on exploring water reuse initiatives across different sectors, ensuring they address current challenges and align with the EU's strategic objectives. Our goal is to drive innovation and sustainability in the water sector. By doing so, we seek to enhance water resilience and EU competitiveness, while contributing to a more sustainable and circular economy. The JRC continues to be dedicated to supporting the European Commission's efforts on water reuse, and we are excited to be playing a key role in shaping the future of water management within the EU.
How has the uptake of water reuse evolved across EU member states since the regulation came into force in June 2023? Are there any notable leaders or laggards?
We are now seeing operators, irrigators, and farmers working together to develop risk management plans and implement water reuse systems
Since the new Water Reuse Regulation came into effect in June 2023, we have seen a varied uptake of water reuse across the EU countries. Some countries, like Spain, Portugal, and Cyprus, with a long history of reusing water, are already ahead of the game with their own rules and guidelines in place. Others, like Italy, France, and Germany, are making good progress. In fact, some of these countries are even developing national legislation on water reuse for the first time, which is a big step forward. However, Member States, like Poland, Croatia and Austria, are taking a more cautious approach, either because of the abundant availability of freshwater resources or technical/financial challenges. They have invoked Article 2(2) of the regulation, which lets them opt out of water reuse for agriculture in certain areas, and have rather explored other uses like urban or industrial applications. It is great to see that the regulation is sparking innovation and investment in water reuse, and we are here to support all EU countries as they move forward.
What have been the main challenges or bottlenecks in implementing the Water Reuse Regulation from a technical or governance perspective?
From a technical perspective, developing effective risk management plans has not been easy. On the governance side, collaboration among stakeholders is crucial, but can be challenging, especially when it comes to educating and involving end-users like farmers. To address these challenges, we are providing support and expertise, facilitating capacity building and training, and developing innovative tools to help stakeholders understand their roles.
Despite initial hurdles, we are now seeing a positive trend: operators, irrigators, and farmers are working together to develop risk management plans and implement water reuse systems. With knowledge sharing among EU countries, expertise and potential emerging, and with a bit of effort and trust, we are confident the water reuse sector will continue to grow and thrive.
Attached link
https://smartwatermagazine.com/news/european-commission/our-goal-make-water-reuse-a-cornerstone-eus-climate-adaptation-and-circularTaxonomy
- Water Reuse & Recycling
- Industrial Water Reuse
- Research
- Reuse
- water reuse - regulations and permitting
- Recycling and reuse
- Austria