Transition to Circular Economy in the Water Sector by Legislative Perspectives for the Sicilian Region (Italy)

Abstract

Water reuse practices still need to be consistently implemented across Europe and globally, primarily due to insufficient social trust and the complexities of governance surrounding water reuse techniques. Additionally, the need for uniformity in water reuse regulations is a significant factor. To address these challenges, the European Parliament recently passed Regulation 2020/741, which establishes minimum requirements for water reuse to standardise legal obligations for reclaimed wastewater. This regulation also mandates the development of Water Reuse Risk Management Plans (WRRMPs) for all Union reclamation facilities. This manuscript aims to provide an overview of the current regulations on water reuse in Europe, Italy and Sicily. A critical overview has also offered how the regulations changed over time. Moreover, a first attempt at developing WRRMPs for a Sicilian plant (Corleone) has been made. Results showed that the human health risk related to using an agricultural scope is equal to 4 and can be classified as low.