PREVENTING THE DAY ZERO: REUSE OF RECYCLED WATER FOR POTABLE PURPOSES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

In 2017, Cape Town, South Africa, announced that in the following year water levels in supply dams will reach a critical historical minimum. This would invoke the highest state of emergency, restricting citizens‟ consumption to the bare minimum of 25 liters of water per person per day. Even though this Day Zero has been prevented and postponed, climate change and global trends in water consumption indicate that in decades to come similar situations will become more often all around the world. European Union, as one of the most populated areas in the world is already starting to feel the consequences of these global changes, with almost one third of its territory being affected by draughts. Wastewater, as an underutilized source, could provide an opportunity for member states to overcome water shortages. This dissertation gives a review of the current legislation in the EU that is relevant to recycled water reuse for diverse uses, as well as analysis of successful schemes in member states intended for potable purposes. The study shows that even though these schemes have numerous benefits such as increase in water security and environmental protection, the potable reuse of recycled water is currently limited and will continue to be restricted mostly due to the lack of common EU-wide standards.