Regulation (EU) 2020/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse

Amends/Commences: None

Comes into force: 26th June 2023

Jurisdiction: EU

These Regulations provide requirements to the operators of facilities that treat urban waste water. The requirements include water quality monitoring and risk management for the safe use of reclaimed water. These Regulations apply whenever treated urban waste water is reused.
 
While these Regulations are primarily aimed at increasing the use of reclaimed water in agricultural irrigation, they do not prevent Member States from using reclaimed water for other purposes.

Obligations for reclamation facility operators

Before a reclamation facility operator* allows water intended for agricultural irrigation to be passed on, they must ensure that it complies with the following:

• The water quality meets the minimum requirements as set out in Section 2 of Annex I.

• Any conditions for the reclamation facility operators laid out in the reclaimed water permit.

The competent authority will establish a water reuse risk management plan for the purposes of producing, supplying and using reclaimed water.  

Reclaimed water permit

The production and supply of reclaimed water intended for agricultural irrigation is subject to the holding of a permit. Applications for permits or for modification of existing permits must be submitted to the competent authority of the Member State in which the reclamation facility operates or plans to operate.

Holders of reclaimed water permits shall have their compliance verified by the competent authority by compliance checks. Compliance checks are carried out in the following ways:

• On-the-spot checks;

• Monitoring of data; or

• Any other adequate means the competent authority deems necessary.  

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