Closing the cycle by reusing treated wastewater: the role of Prato within the EU Partnership on Circular Economy

Water is one of the most critical resources worldwide. At urban level, clean water is not only used as drinking water, but for a wide range of uses. Due to human health and environmental risks, water reuse has strong limitations in the existing regulation of water and wastewater. A more efficient water reuse could be essential in the transition towards a circular economy. Differences in national and regional legislations lead to differences in the possibilities for cities to use existing knowledge. However, treated wastewater can be used for several purposes such as street cleaning, irrigation of parks and gardens, industrial purposes, etc. After all, different uses require different standards of water quality. Actually, at European level, the Urban Agenda for the EU is willing find workable ideas focused on the topics of EU legislation, funding and knowledge sharing. One of these partnerships is the EU Partnership on Circular Economy. Cities play an essential role in the development of a circular economy and overall governance, enabling businesses, public procurement, consumption and resource management are the themes that would all have a bearing upon the development of circular economy concepts within cities. At present, the Municipality of Prato is the Italian representative in the EU Partnership on Circular Economy. The Urban Agenda project would enhance EU policies, strengthen the EU’s understanding of urban issues, and would share best practice strategies. Within the partnership, the Municipality of Prato leads the debates regarding wastewater reuse. This study aims to describe the role of Prato within the EU Partnership on Circular Economy, as well describing the recent evolution on EU legislation about reuse of treated wastewater. In particular, we will focus on recent published proposal for Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on minimum requirements for water reuse.