The status of wastewater reuse practice in the Mediterranean basin: need for guidelines

In Mediterranean environments, uneven distribution of precipitation and runoff spacially and temporarily, requires the construction of costly water storages and higher levels of wastewater treatment. Also, uneven occupation of the territory leads to a significant stress in coastal areas and requires the diversion of significant volumes of water. In most Mediterranean countries, the main problem may not be scarcity of water in terms of average per capita, but the high cost of making water available at the right place, at the right time with the required quality. In these countries, more than anywhere else, an integrated approach for water resources management including wastewater reclamation and reuse locally is required. As a result, and following a general increase in wastewater treatment, wastewater reclamation and reuse is expected to increase sharply in the Mediterranean basin over the next decade and become an important aspect of integrated water resources management. Important projects are being developed and wastewater reclamation and reuse facilities have been built. These projects have followed local or national guidelines where available such as for example in Israel, France, Tunisia or Cyprus. Regulations on wastewater reclamation and reuse are essential. They help protect public health, increase water availability, prevent coastal pollution and enhance water resources and nature conservation policies. Unifying wastewater reclamation and reuse regulations around the Mediterranean basin would also contribute to secure economic and touristic exchanges in the region. However, there is still a controversy between the defenders of strict water quality standards for an absolute protection of public health and the defenders of a pragmatic stance recognizing existing wastewater reuse practices and promoting non-potable water uses with less restrictive water quality standards. Despite the high potential for wastewater reclamation and reuse in the Mediterranean countries, only a few have systematically exploited this resource. This paper presents the status of wastewater reclamation and reuse around the Mediterranean basin and discusses existing guidelines and regulations. The possibility of developing uniform wastewater reuse standards is also presented.