The European Parliament's Environment Committee on Tuesday 22 January in Brussels significantly amended the proposal to facilitate the reuse of urban waste water for irrigation of agricultural land (see EUROPE 12028).
The draft report by Mrs Simona Bonafè (S&D, Italy), adopted by a large majority (53 votes in favour, 1 against and 4 abstentions), will be put to a vote in Parliament at the plenary session from 11 to 14 February in Strasbourg.
The legislation defines minimum quality standards for reclaimed water to be used for agricultural irrigation. It also sets out obligations for production, distribution and storage operators, as well as risk management measures.
Reclaimed water will be used to irrigate food crops, processed food crops and non-food crops. The European Commission will have to assess whether reclaimed water can be used in other ways.
MEPs say that in the meantime, Member States may allow reclaimed water to be used in other ways, such as industrial water reuse, provided that human health, animals and the environment are thoroughly protected.
The potential for water reuse by 2025 is about 6.6 billion m3, compared to the current 1.1 billion m3 per year, the rapporteur, Mrs Bonafè, added. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)