Manuel Sapiano Energy and Water Agency - Malta

Water Re-Use within the context of the EU Circular Economy Package The EU Process:

Water Re-Use within the context of the EU Circular Economy Package …….. the reuse of treated wastewater in safe and cost-effective conditions is a valuable but under-used means of increasing water supply and alleviating pressure on over-exploited water resources in the EU. Water reuse in agriculture also contributes to nutrients recycling by substitution of solid fertilisers. The Commission will take a series of actions to promote the reuse of treated wastewater, including legislation on minimum requirements for reused water.

Water Re-Use within the context of the EU Circular Economy Package DEMAND SUPPLY REUSE Water re-use, in addition to other water saving and efficiency measures, can be an important instrument to address water scarcity and to adapt to climate change as part of integrated water management. Re-use enables water managers to meet water demand with a lower reliance on conventional and unconventional water resources; hence can support the reduction of quantitative pressures on natural water resources.

Water Re-Use within the context of the EU Circular Economy Package The National Context: Malta’s 2nd River Basin Management Plan highlights water re- use as one of the main measures for ensuring the achievement of the Water Framework Directive’s environmental objectives. WSC’s New Water Programme will see the commissioning during 2017 of three wastewater polishing plants with a capacity to produce 7 million m3 of water of sufficiently good quality to ensure its safe use in agriculture, landscaping and industry.

Water Re-Use within the context of the EU Circular Economy Package The Future Dimension: Better Integrating Water Re-Use within the framework of the Circular Economy Package

Water Re-Use within the context of the EU Circular Economy Package Joint Innovation Deal on Water Re-use Objective: To promote a shift in the concept of water treatment facilities from Wastewater Treatment Plants to Water Resource Recovery Plants through the implementation of AnMBR technology, in line with the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy.

Water Re-Use within the context of the EU Circular Economy Package Focus on: The identification of legal barriers and obstacles Coordination between entities and stakeholders involved in water management and use Dissemination of results

Water Re-Use within the context of the EU Circular Economy Package Within the context of the Circular Economy, water re-use needs to be considered in a more comprehensive manner: Recovery of water resources, to address water scarcity Nutrient Recovery Energy Recovery

Manuel Sapiano manuel.sapiano@gov.mt