On 20 June 2024, Aqua Publica Europea organised, in partnership with its member EYDAP, the public seminar “TAPPING INTO THE UNTAPPED: The potential of reclaimed and non-potable waters to increase water resilience” in Athens, Greece. The event brought together experts, policymakers and stakeholders to explore innovative approaches and regulatory frameworks needed to enhance water resilience through reclaimed and non-potable water in a context of water scarcity and climate change.

Bernard Van Nuffel, President of Aqua Publica Europea and VIVAQUA, opened the seminar by highlighting the profound impacts of declining water availability on humans, wildlife, agriculture and industry in Europe. He stressed the urgent need for integrated strategies to mitigate these challenges exacerbated by climate change and new industrial demands.

Valentina Bastino, Policy Officer for EU Water Legislation and Policy at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Environment, followed with a comprehensive overview of EU policy developments in the field of water, highlighting initiatives such as the Water Reuse Regulation and ongoing work to promote water reuse beyond agriculture.

The first session featured presentations by public operators and administrations showcasing practical projects and strategies from across Europe to reduce pressures on freshwater resources.

Louise Vanysacker, Manager R&D at De Watergroep, highlighted innovative water reuse projects in Flanders, Belgium. She outlined initiatives focusing on aquifer storage and recovery and on advanced treatment technologies to reuse effluent from wastewater treatment plants for drinking water purposes to bolster water supply resilience.

Giorgos Sachinis, Director of Strategy and Innovation at EYDAP, provided insights into Athens’ water management strategies in a context of diminishing freshwater reserves. He discussed the pivotal role of water reuse and presented decentralised approaches, such as sewer mining and the use of a non-potable water network, that EYDAP is adopting to reduce pressures on freshwater resources.

Jordi Molist, Director of Water Supply at the Catalan Water Agency, presented Catalonia’s approach to manage water resources amidst extreme drought events and discussed strategies implemented to mitigate water scarcity. He outlined Barcelona’s reuse system, involving the Llobregat river, where reclaimed effluent supports environmental flows, crop irrigation and groundwater replenishment.

Maria José Chesa, Head of Environment and External Relations Service at Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua (BCASA), further developed Barcelona’s response to increasing water deficits. She presented a proposed ordinance to promote greywater recycling in new buildings to reduce potable water consumption in the framework of the city’s ambitious climate emergency action plan.

The second session explored conditions to maximise the potential of non-potable water in Europe and ways to scale up local best practices from the previous session.

The session was introduced by Petros Varelidis, Secretary-General for Natural Environment and Water at the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy, who committed to advancing water reuse practices beyond agricultural irrigation and highlighted regulatory challenges and opportunities for enhancing water management in Greece.

Diana Georgakopoulou, Director General at the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV)’s Business Council for Sustainable Development, called for accelerated action in the water reuse promotion. She urged further cooperation between governments and industries and stressed the need for a harmonised regulatory framework, infrastructure development, clear water quality standards, and financial incentives.

Roberta Maffettone, Scientific Project Officer at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), highlighted the JRC’s pivotal role in providing technical guidance and fostering best practices on water reuse across EU Member States. She also presented ongoing efforts to investigate potential regulatory needs for water reuse’s industrial and urban applications.

Manuel Sapiano, Chief Executive Officer of Malta’s Energy and Water Agency (EWA), underscored the critical role of water reuse in meeting Malta’s water demands, particularly in agriculture, and highlighted the environmental benefits that water operators can provide through water reuse, adding that these benefits should be factored into cost recovery models.

Theodore Bellos, Director of Water Management at the Decentralised Administration of Attica, presented the challenges faced by the Attica region in drinking water supply. He stressed the critical need to protect coastal aquifers from seawater intrusion and gave insights into Greece’s evolving regulatory landscape for water reuse.

The seminar concluded with George Stergiou, Chair of the Board of Directors at EYDAP, who called for holistic water management strategies to tackle climate change impacts and water scarcity challenges. He highlighted the importance of collaboration, knowledge exchange and shared vision for achieving a sustainable future in Europe.

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• Event report
• Programme and speakers' biographies
• Photo album
• Recording

Presentations

• Valentina Bastino, European Commission
• Louise Vanysacker, De Watergroep
• Giorgos Sachinis, EYDAP
• Jordi Molist, Catalan Water Agency
• Maria José Chesa, Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua (BCASA)