Key figure of the week: REUSE of treated wastewater in mainland France

Source: Inventory carried out by CEREMA, between May 2015 and May 2017.

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To date, countries around the world have made very uneven commitments to this approach, which affects all sectors of the economy, including  industry and agriculture. For example, France recycles 0.6%* of the water in its network, compared with 91% in Israel, 14% in Italy and 8% in Spain. France's 'Water Plan', unveiled in March, sets a target of 10% wastewater REUSE by 2030.

Thanks to its expertise in training, technical support, data processing and the creation of information systems, OiEau supports a wide variety of stakeholders in their efforts to promote reuse of wastewater.

Training to build skills

Energy savings, sludge hygienisation, wastewater reuse, treatment of micropollutants: wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are undergoing and will continue to undergo major changes.

In response to these issues, OiEau offers around forty professional training courses on wastewater treatment to meet the needs of the various players in the sector for enhanced skills in the selection, design, sizing, operation and maintenance of WWTPs.

Our training centre, the only one of its kind in Europe, provides water sector players with exhibition rooms, wastewater treatment plants (activated sludge, physico-chemical treatment, flotation, etc.), physico-chemical and biological analysis laboratories, sludge dewatering units (centrifuge, filter press, belt filter, etc.) and a range of WWTPs that can be visited as part of the training courses. OiEau has specifically designed a 220 p.e. activated sludge WWTP equipped with tertiary treatment. This functional unit can supply different qualities of bathing water obtained by screening and ultraviolet, water that can be reused in agriculture after ultrafiltration and water that has undergone treatment for micropollutants by adsorption on granular activated carbon.

Experimentation and innovation to achieve zero water discharges

Anticipating water shortages is becoming a crucial factor in ensuring the continuity of industrial activity, particularly in the agri-food sector.

In order to provide this sector with a sustainable and transferable solution in the field of LWR, OiEau has been working with the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées Toulouse, Chemdoc and Monin for the past 3 years, as part of the LIFE-Zeus project. The aim of this project is to make use of unconventional water in food processing plants, to considerably reduce water withdrawals by reusing treated wastewater on the industrial site, and to provide a full-scale demonstration of "zero water discharge".

Supported by the European Union's LIFE programme and french Water Agencies, the project is being carried out in collaboration with national and local authorities. It is fully in line with the French President's announcements that the "Water Plan" includes a strategic focus on the reuse of wastewater, and responds to this requirement.

Sharing data and knowledge on WASWR

Adopted 30 years ago, the European Directive on the collection and treatment of urban waste water applies to all Member States. Regulation (EU) 2020/741 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 2020 on minimum requirements for the reuse of water applies from 26 June 2023.

By focusing on one of the major sources of water pollution, it is part of the European policy aimed at controlling pollution of all kinds and restoring good water status.

To measure the effects of this policy and its application, the European Commission has to analyse the large amount of data submitted by the Member States.

The SIIF ERU (Structured Implementation and Information Framework) uses 11 algorithms and 9,000 lines of code to process all the data submitted by the Member States, amounting to 500 MB of data every two years, with 150 different types of information.

This data presents the situation for each agglomeration, its wastewater treatment plants and the associated aquatic environments.

Comprising a European site and linked national sites, it includes an administration interface for importing data, processing and calculating compliance information, and presenting it in the form of tables, maps and graphs.

Starting from the initial situation (data files and spreadsheet processing), OiEau has modernised the system, first with a prototype for a few countries, then by extending it to all countries and using it to assess the situation for each report.

By demonstrating the relevance of interoperable systems, SIIF ERU has laid the foundations for the development of European information systems towards greater flexibility, responsiveness and relevance for all users of this information.

For over 30 years, OiEau, a recognised public interest association, has been initiating and supporting innovative projects to improve water resource management in France and around the world.

*Water conferences 2009, in France