Wastewater reclamation and reuse in Europe: a model-based potential estimation

The basic aim of this paper is to present an approach to quantitatively assess the potential of municipal wastewater reclamation and reuse in a European context. The model developed is based on the analysis and interrelation of water management data like water availability, water demand and treated effluent. In conjunction with information about the current status of wastewater reuse simple key figures are deduced, which allow future projection of wastewater reclamation and reuse. The simulation points out that there is a significant potential for an increased utilisation of reclaimed wastewater in many European countries, specifically in the Mediterranean region driven by different factors like increased wastewater treatment capacity and higher demand for irrigation and groundwater recharge.