On 3 December 2020 the European association ‚Water Reuse Europe (WRE)’ held a webinar focused on the impact of the new EU regulation on water reuse in agriculture from end-users’ perspectives. The new regulation (EU) 2020/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse entered into force on 26 June 2020. On 26 June 2023 it will become valid in all Member States of the European Union. As operator of the Braunschweig water reuse scheme for decades the German SUWANU EUROPE partner AV-BS was invited by WRE to present current challenges and opportunities for the Braunschweig water reuse scheme resulting from the new regulation.
Speaker Jonas Schneider working for AV-BS as coordinator for national and international research projects explained which further steps need to be taken by AV-BS regarding the implementation of a disinfection unit and a risk management within the local water reuse scheme. The more than 60 participants learned that AV-BS expect the national authorities to further strengthen the minimum requirements of the new regulation especially regarding emerging contaminants such as residues from pharmaceuticals and care products. On the other hand the new regulation will provide a continuous legal basis for water reuse in Braunschweig as there is no existing German regulation or law managing water reuse in agriculture. AV-BS expect to further increase the support of the local community for water reuse by implementing the required multi-barrier system regarding hygienic and environmental risks. Besides AV-BS is interested in extending the range of field crops by increasing the water quality which means a further diversification of the cultivation risks for the local farmers.
