Risk management plans to overcome barriers for safe reuse of 1 urban wastewater for agricultural purposes in Europe

Despite their multiple benefits, water-reuse practices are scarcely implemented globally owing to factors hindering the reuse process and socio-political issues that are closely related to the lack of trust in water-reuse techniques and practices. Non-homogeneity in the water-reuse regulations is also highly relevant. To overcome these challenges, the European Parliament has recently approved the Regulation 2020/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse, to standardise the legal requirements of wastewater to be considered fit for reuse. This regulation also requires elaboration of Water Reuse Risk Management Plans (WRRMPs) for all reclamation facilities of the Union. This review aims to provide a general overview of the current limitations and gaps in developing water-reuse practices, as well as recommendations that could overcome them. To this end, WRRMPs play a crucial role because they can ensure the healthy and safe use of reclaimed water in agriculture. Consequently, they can serve as tools to change the public perception of wastewater, from a waste to a source of water. Previous guidelines to develop risk management plans and the current regulations regarding water reuse in Europe have also been extensively analysed in this study.