Reuse of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation

The Council of the EU adopted on 26 June its position on the draft European regulation and its annexes on the reuse of treated wastewater intended for agricultural irrigation.
Negotiations between the Parliament, the Council and the Commission are expected to take place between 1 July and 31 December.

The reuse of treated waste water from sewage treatment plants or industrial installations is more environmentally friendly than other water supply methods such as transfers or desalination.

This future regulation aims to address water shortages due to climate change, especially during heat waves and droughts.

It harmonises, at EU level, the quality requirements for reclaimed water as well as the minimum frequency of checks to ensure the protection of human and animal health and the environment.

Limit values are defined for the 5 analytical parameters below:

• Coli
• BOD5
• MES
• Turbidity
• Salmonella

In specific cases, testing for Legionella spp. and intestinal nematodes may also be required.
The values obtained will enable the water quality to be classified into four categories A, B, C or D.
Belonging to a category makes it possible to determine the type of crops for which irrigation is authorised.

Our laboratory is accredited for the research of these 5 analytical parameters, you will find the details of our scope of accreditation N°1-6066 on the COFRAC website.

For any information, do not hesitate to contact us.