Assessing the European wastewater reclamation and reuse potential — a scenario analysis

A model-based estimation of the wastewater reclamation and reuse potential in a European context is presented, and the effects of different water management scenarios on the appraisal are quantified. The impact of climate change on water availability and variation in the demand pattern and water use of considered countries is the modifying variable in these scenarios. The simulation demonstrates that there is a significant potential for an increased utilisation of reclaimed wastewater in many European countries, specifically in the Mediterranean region. Aspects related to the factors that will definitely drive or slow down the development are addressed.