{"id":17718,"date":"2022-09-17T14:14:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-17T14:14:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=17718"},"modified":"2022-09-25T14:07:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-25T14:07:32","slug":"water-reuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-reuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Reuse [EU]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-reuse\/#Minimum_requirements_for_water_reuse\" title=\"Minimum requirements for water reuse\">Minimum requirements for water reuse<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-reuse\/#Key_Points\" title=\"Key Points\">Key Points<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-reuse\/#Reclaimed_water_quality\" title=\"Reclaimed water quality\">Reclaimed water quality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-reuse\/#Risk_management\" title=\"\nRisk management\">\nRisk management<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-reuse\/#Permit_obligations\" title=\"Permit obligations\">Permit obligations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-reuse\/#Application_Background\" title=\"Application &amp; Background\">Application &amp; Background<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-reuse\/#MAIN_DOCUMENT\" title=\"MAIN DOCUMENT\">MAIN DOCUMENT<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Minimum_requirements_for_water_reuse\"><\/span>Minimum requirements for water reuse<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Regulation (EU) 2020\/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse<\/p>\n<p>It sets out harmonised parameters to guarantee the safety of water reuse in agricultural irrigation, with the aim of encouraging this practice and helping to address droughts and water stress.<br \/>\nIt also aims to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 6 on the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, and Goal 12 on sustainable consumption and production.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Points\"><\/span>Key Points<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The regulation sets out minimum requirements for water quality and monitoring and rules on risk management, for the safe use of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation in the context of integrated water management.<\/p>\n<p>It builds on 2 European Commission communications:<\/p>\n<p>the 2012 Blueprint to Safeguard Europe\u2019s Water Resources (see summary); and<br \/>\nthe 2015 EU action plan for the Circular Economy which committed to a series of actions to promote the use of treated waste water and to a legal proposal setting out minimum requirements for water reuse.<br \/>\nScope<\/p>\n<p>The regulation applies whenever treated urban waste water is reused, according to Article 12(1) of Directive 91\/271\/EEC on urban waste water, for agricultural irrigation (see summary).<br \/>\nAn EU country can decide that it is not appropriate to reuse water for agricultural irrigation in one or more of its river basin districts or parts thereof, on the basis of specific criteria:<br \/>\nthe geographic and climatic conditions of the district or parts thereof;<br \/>\nthe pressures on and the status of other water resources;<br \/>\nthe pressures on and the status of the surface water bodies in which treated urban waste water is discharged;<br \/>\nthe environmental and resource costs of reclaimed water and of other water resources.<\/p>\n<p>Such decision must be duly justified and regularly reviewed to take into account changing circumstances, such as climate change projections and national climate change adaptation strategies, as well as the river basins management plans drawn up in accordance with the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000\/60\/EC \u2014 see summary).<br \/>\nThe regulation allows for time-limited exemptions from the rules for research or pilot projects, subject to certain conditions.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reclaimed_water_quality\"><\/span>Reclaimed water quality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The reclamation facility operator must ensure that reclaimed water intended for agricultural irrigation complies with:<\/p>\n<p>the minimum requirements for water quality set out in the annex 1 of the regulation \u2014 covering microbiological elements (such as levels of E. coli bacteria) and monitoring requirements for routine and validation monitoring;<br \/>\nany additional conditions concerning water quality set by the competent authority in the relevant permit issued.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Risk_management\"><\/span>\nRisk management<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The relevant national authority must ensure that a water reuse risk management plan to produce, supply and use reclaimed water is drawn up.<br \/>\nThe water reuse risk management plan can be drafted by the reclamation facility operator, other parties in the water reuse project or the end users, as appropriate, and it must identify the risk management responsibilities of all parties in the water reuse project.<br \/>\nIt must, in particular, set out any additional water quality requirements, identify appropriate preventive and\/or corrective measures and any additional barriers or measures to ensure the safety of the system.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Permit_obligations\"><\/span>Permit obligations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The production and supply of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation requires a permit.<br \/>\nParties concerned must submit an application to the relevant national authority.<\/p>\n<p>The permits sets out the obligations for the reclamation facility operator, and, where relevant, of other parties involved in the water reuse system, which are based on the risk management plan. They must specify a number of elements including:<br \/>\nthe reclaimed water quality class or classes and the agricultural use for which the reclaimed water is permitted, the place of use, the reclamation facilities and the estimated yearly volume of the reclaimed water to be produced;<br \/>\nconditions in relation to the minimum requirements for water quality and monitoring;<br \/>\nconditions in relation to additional requirements for the reclamation facility operator, set out in the water reuse risk management plan;<br \/>\nany other conditions necessary to eliminate any unacceptable risks to the environment and to human and animal health so that any risks are of an acceptable level;<br \/>\nthe validity period of the permit;<br \/>\nthe point of compliance.<\/p>\n<p>Permits must be regularly reviewed and updated where necessary, and at least in the case of significant changes in the treatment processes or in the site conditions.<br \/>\nCompliance checks<\/p>\n<p>The competent national authority must check compliance with the conditions set out in the permit. These can be carried out by:<br \/>\non-the-spot checks;<br \/>\nmonitoring data obtained, in particular pursuant to this regulation;<br \/>\nany other adequate means.<\/p>\n<p>The regulation also sets out the measures to be taken in case of non-compliance.<br \/>\nThe competent national authority must also regularly check compliance with risk management plans.<br \/>\nTransparency and information sharing<\/p>\n<p>National contact points must be established to facilitate cross-border coordination where necessary.<\/p>\n<p>To ensure transparency, the regulation also sets out rules on:<br \/>\nawareness raising;<br \/>\ninformation to be provided to the public;<br \/>\ninformation on the monitoring of implementation.<br \/>\nThe Commission will carry out an evaluation of the regulation by 26 June 2028.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Application_Background\"><\/span>Application &amp; Background<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It applies from 26 June 2023.<\/p>\n<p>BACKGROUND<\/p>\n<p>For more information, see:<\/p>\n<p>Water reuse (European Commission).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MAIN_DOCUMENT\"><\/span>MAIN DOCUMENT<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Regulation (EU) 2020\/741 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 2020 on minimum requirements for water reuse (OJ L 177, 5.6.2020, pp. 32-55)<\/p>\n<p>RELATED DOCUMENTS<\/p>\n<p>Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions \u2014 Closing the loop \u2014 An EU action plan for the Circular Economy (COM(2015) 614 final, 2.12.2015)<\/p>\n<p>Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions \u2014 A Blueprint to Safeguard Europe&#8217;s Water Resources (COM(2012) 673 final, 14.11.2012)<\/p>\n<p>Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council \u2014 Addressing the challenge of water scarcity and droughts in the European Union (COM(2007) 414 final, 18.7.2007)<\/p>\n<p>Regulation (EC) No 852\/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, pp. 1-54). Text republished in corrigendum (OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, pp. 3-21)<\/p>\n<p>Successive amendments to Regulation (EC) No 852\/2004 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.<\/p>\n<p>Directive 2000\/60\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, pp. 1-73)<\/p>\n<p>See consolidated version.<\/p>\n<p>Council Directive 98\/83\/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (OJ L 330, 5.12.1998, pp. 32-54)<\/p>\n<p>See consolidated version.<\/p>\n<p>Council Directive 91\/271\/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment (OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, pp. 40-52)<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-17718\" data-postid=\"17718\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-17718 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Minimum requirements for water reuse Regulation (EU) 2020\/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse It sets out harmonised parameters to guarantee the safety of water reuse in agricultural irrigation, with the aim of encouraging this practice and helping to address droughts and water stress. It also aims to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[215,236],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17718"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17718"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17718\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18381,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17718\/revisions\/18381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}